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Ehrlichiosis Anaplasmosis
Lyme Borreliosis

Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs: A Global Perspective

Richard B. Ford, DVM, MS
North Carolina State University

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Emerging Vector-Borne
Diseases

Ehrlichiosis
Anaplasmosis
Spotted Fever Group (RMSF)
Babesiosis
Lyme borreliosis
Hepatozoonosis
Feline Cytauxzoonosis
Bartonellosis (CSD)
Leishmaniasis

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Advances in Diagnostic Testing

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Positive E.canis Antibody

Positive Control

Positive Heartworm Antigen

Introduced January 2000

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SNAP 4Dx Plus
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Anaplasma platys
Heartworm Ag
Ehrlichia canis
C6 Antibody (Lyme Disease)
IDEXX

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Clinical Application
The “Wellness” Exam

- Heartworm
- Ehrlichia +
- Lyme Disease
- Anaplasma

Laboratory Profile
CBC
Chemistry Profile
Platelet Count

and/or

Physical
Examination
Findings

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The Clinical Presentation...
Lethargy-Fever-Anorexia

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Platelet Counts: 120,000 to 150,000/cumm
80%

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IMAGE

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Immune-Mediated
Hemolytic Anemia

-or-
Vaccine-Induced (?)

-or-
Infectious

-or-
Neoplasia

-or-
Drug-associated

80%

Agglutination in Anticoagulated Blood (EDTA)

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Hyperglobulinemia

Up to 75%

IgG Myeloma Ehrlichiosis

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IMAGE

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Diagnostic Confirmation: Peripheral Blood

Morulae

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Acute Phase I
Fever, lymph node enlargement, thrombocytopenia, subtle clinical signs

Subclinical Phase II
Resolution of any visible clinical signs

Chronic Phase III
Progressive illness, thrombocytopenia, spontaneous bleeding, anemia...and many more...including death.

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Anaplasma & Ehrlichia Antibody PERSISTS… for months or years after Rx Doxycycline & recovery

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Treatment
- Doxycycline (1st choice): 5 mg/kg, PO, bid, at least 3 weeks
- Chloramphenicol (for puppies): 25-50 mg/kg, PO, tid for 10-14 days
Expect development of an “asymptomatic” carrier state.

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Canine Lyme Disease

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2013 Predicted Lyme Prevalenc
Very Low
Low
Moderate
High
Very High

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Ground-Feeding Passerines (aka, “songbirds”, robins)

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The Clinical Presentation...
Lameness-Lethargy-Fever-Anorexia

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Erythema Migrans

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IMAGE

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Canine Lyme Borreliosis
Diagnostic criteria have yet to be defined…

- Acute-onset Lameness and/or myalgia.
- SNAP “+” for C6 antibody
- Response to doxycycline (within 3 days).
- SNAP “+” test result generally means infection.
- ~ 10%-20% of “+” cases have signs… when tested!
- <0.1% Lyme Nephropathy (uncommon….but often fatal)
- Doxycycline does not clear the infection.