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Learn about anaplasmosis, Lyme, and the risks to pets and humans on Nantucket, with preventive measures and insights from the local veterinary experience.
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Veterinary Aspects of Tick-Borne Diseases on Nantucket Scott White, DVM, MPH
Topics • Clinical Disease in Pets • Anaplasmosis • Lyme • Pets and Human Risk • Preventive Measures • Nantucket Experience
Clinical Disease in Pets Horses • Anaplasmosis (formerly Ehrlichiaequi) • Fever most common symptom • Lymphadenopathy & vasculitis (swollen legs) less common • Doxycycline or tetracycline • Lyme -- ?? • Most cases likely were anaplasmosis • Overdiagnosed Cats-- ??
Clinical Disease in Pets Dogs -- Lyme and anaplasmosis • Acute cases: classic symptoms are similar • Fever • Joint pain or swelling • Lymphadenopathy • Often just mild, flu-like symptoms that resolve • Vomiting with anaplasmosis • More severe if co-infected • Rare but severe thrombocytopenia (low platelets) with anaplasmosis • Disease is mostly mild to moderate & very responsive to doxycycline • Diagnosis & treatment straightforward
Clinical Disease in Pets Dogs • Asymptomatic but Sero-Positive on Routine Screening Tests • Persistent Infection or Residual Antibodies ?? • Disease Risks ?? • Doxycycline ?? • Anaplasmosis • Consider treatment if recent sero-conversion • Additional blood tests invariably normal • General consensus not to treat • Lyme • Consider treatment if recent sero-conversion • Suspected increased risk of kidney disease in chronic infections • Unlikely to prove infection with laboratory tests • Evidence of kidney disease by testing for elevated protein in urine • Treat or monitor based on results
Pets and Human Risk • Bring ticks to us • Petting or grooming • Living spaces • Car • Activities with pets in infested areas • Walks or rides • Hunting • Getting the “tennis ball” for the dog YES – Pets increase our risk of exposure to TBDs !!
Preventive Measures • Similar steps for preventing exposure to ourselves • Avoid likely infested areas • Tick checks • Landscaping and spraying yard • Pet specific measures • Topical products for dogs and cats • monthly, year-round • not repellants • fipronil? • Vaccination and routing screening tests for dogs
Nantucket Experience • Sero-positive rates in dogs are high • N=100 Neg/Neg: 40 An: 38 L: 3 An/L: 19 • 60% positive for Anaplamosis, Lyme or both • Anaplasmosis > Lyme @ 3:1 • Ticks can be… • anywhere • very focal • Seasonal owners and pets from non-endemic areas • Unaware of risks and preventive measures • Vaccinations/testing not available from regular veterinarian • Onset of disease when return home • present year-round (adults) • “suddenly” around homes