Lyme disease transmission ShareCompartir The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, is spread through the bite of infected ticks. The blacklegged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) spreads the disease in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central United States. The western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) spreads the disease on the Pacific Coast. Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are much larger and are more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to transmit the bacteria. Adult Ixodes ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year.

Relative sizes of blacklegged ticks at different life stages In general, adult ticks are approximately the size of a sesame seed and nymphal ticks are approximately the size of a poppy seed. Are there other ways to get Lyme disease? There is no evidence that Lyme disease is transmitted from person-to-person. For example, a person cannot get infected from touching, kissing, or having sex with a person who has Lyme disease. Lyme disease acquired during pregnancy may lead to infection of the placenta and possible stillbirth; however, no negative effects on the fetus have been found when the mother receives appropriate antibiotic treatment. There are no reports of Lyme disease transmission from breast milk. Although no cases of Lyme disease have been linked to blood transfusion, scientists have found that the Lyme disease bacteria can live in blood that is stored for donation. Individuals being treated for Lyme disease with an antibiotic should not donate blood. Individuals who have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease may be considered as potential blood donors. Information on the current criteria for blood donation is available on the Red Cross website . Although dogs and cats can get Lyme disease, there is no evidence that they spread the disease directly to their owners. However, pets can bring infected ticks into your home or yard.

Consider protecting your pet, and possibly yourself, through the use of tick control products for animals. You will not get Lyme disease from eating venison or squirrel meat, but in keeping with general food safety principles, always cook meat thoroughly. Note that hunting and dressing deer or squirrels may bring you into close contact with infected ticks. There is no credible evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted through air, food, water, or from the bites of mosquitoes, flies, fleas, or lice. Ticks not known to transmit Lyme disease include Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). How ticks find their hosts Ticks can't fly or jump. Instead, they wait for a host, resting on the tips of grasses and shrubs in a position known as "questing". While questing, ticks hold onto leaves and grass by their lower legs. They hold their upper pair of legs outstretched, waiting to climb onto a passing host. When a host brushes the spot where a tick is waiting, it quickly climbs aboard.

It then finds a suitable place to bite its host. How ticks attach to their hosts The tick feeding process makes ticks very good at transmitting infection: Depending on the tick species and its stage of life, preparing to feed can take from 10 minutes to 2 hours. When the tick finds a feeding spot, it grasps the skin and cuts into the surface. The tick then inserts its feeding tube. Many species also secrete a cement-like substance that keeps them firmly attached during the meal. The feeding tube can have barbs, which help keep the tick in place. Ticks also can secrete small amounts of saliva with anesthetic properties so that the animal or person can't feel that the tick has attached itself. If the tick is in a sheltered spot, it can go unnoticed. A blacklegged tick will attach to its host and suck the blood slowly for several days. If the host animal has certain bloodborne infections, such as the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, the tick may ingest the pathogen and become infected. If the tick later feeds on a human, that human can become infected. After feeding, the blacklegged tick drops off and prepares for the next life stage.

At its next feeding, it can then transmit the infection to the new host. Once infected, a tick can transmit infection throughout its life. If you remove a tick quickly (within 24 hours), you can greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease. It takes some time for the Lyme disease-causing bacteria to move from the tick to the host. The longer the tick is attached, the greater the risk of acquiring disease from it. Lifecycle of blacklegged ticks The lifecycle of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus) generally lasts two years. During this time, they go through four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. After the eggs hatch, the ticks must have a blood meal at every stage to survive. Blacklegged ticks can feed from mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The ticks need to have a new host at each stage of their life, as shown below: This diagram shows the lifecycle of blacklegged ticks that can transmit Lyme disease.

File Formats Help: Your Pet and Lyme Disease Your Pet and Lyme Disease Healthy Animals, Healthy People, Healthy Planet Your Pet and Lyme Disease This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian. What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi which is also called a spirochete. The bacteria are carried by ticks which transmit the infection when they feed on animals and humans. The disease can cause generalized illness in animals and humans worldwide. In the United States, Lyme disease occurs predominantly on the Pacific coast and in the Midwest, and Atlantic coast states. Regions in which the disease occurs commonly are called endemic regions. About 75% of dogs living in endemic regions are exposed to infected ticks, but only a small percentage of exposed dogs develop signs of disease. Lyme disease was first described in 1975 when an unusual outbreak of rheumatoid arthritis occurring in children was reported in Lyme, Connecticut. In 1982, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi was determined to be the cause of that outbreak.

Since Lyme disease was first described in the early 1980's, the frequency of occurrence of disease has increased twenty-five fold. Today, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne (transmitted by insects or arthropods) disease occurring in people and probably in dogs in the United States. Dogs are most frequently infected with the Lyme disease bacteria, but infections can also occur in horses, cattle, and cats. How is Lyme disease transmitted? The bacteria live in mice, deer and other small mammals. The type of ticks that can transmit the bacteria from these wildlife to humans and domestic animals are the Ixodes ticks. The bacteria replicate (increase in number) in the wildlife without causing them to become sick. When a tick feeds on the infected wildlife the tick picks up the bacteria, then they transmit the bacteria to another animal the next time they feed. If your pet is diagnosed with Lyme disease you are not at risk of getting Lyme disease directly from your pet. The bacteria increase to high levels in the blood of wildlife whereas humans and domestic animals develop very low levels of the bacteria in their blood and these low levels will not infect a feeding tick.

Researchers have learned that infected ticks must feed for about 24 hours to transmit the bacteria to a susceptible animal so quick removal of ticks from your pet reduces the chance of infection. Clinical signs The most common sign of Lyme disease in dogs is arthritis, which causes sudden lameness, pain ands sometimes swelling in one or more joints. Other signs that may be seen include fever, lack of appetite, dehydration, inactivity, and swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, the infection can cause kidney failure and death although this does not occur commonly in dogs. The signs of heart and nervous system dysfunction seen in infected humans are not often seen in animals. Humans often show a skin rash that looks like a target but this is rarely seen in infected dogs. Diagnosis A diagnosis of Lyme disease is usually made based upon a history of being in an endemic area, signs of arthritis and favorable response to treatment. There is a blood test that measures antibodies to the bacteria but many dogs that live in endemic regions will have a positive blood test. A positive blood test just means that the dog was exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi but not all dogs that are exposed will show signs of disease. Early in the disease dogs may not yet have a positive blood test.

Dogs that have been vaccinated for Lyme disease may have a positive blood test depending upon the type of blood test that is performed. There are several other causes of arthritis that occur in dogs that must also be considered. Treatment Borrelia burgdorferi is easily treated with antibiotics. The signs of Lyme disease usually regress rapidly in response to treatment. If the disease remains untreated the disease becomes chronic and can cause kidney damage although dogs are much less likely to develop chronic disease than are people. Prevention Animals in endemic areas are at greatest risk for infection. The best method of prevention is to avoid tick infested areas, especially in the spring when the young ticks are most active. When returning from a tick-infested area do a thorough search for ticks on both yourself and your animals. Ticks should be removed carefully with a tweezers, pinching the tick near the point they enter the skin. There are also many highly effective veterinary products that will kill ticks on your dog before the tick can transmit the bacteria. Remember that early removal of ticks reduces the chance that the tick will transmit Lyme disease. There is a vaccine approved for use in dogs for Lyme disease prevention. Most authors of veterinary articles on Lyme disease do not recommend vaccinating dogs in non-endemic areas.

Not all authors agree on how effective the vaccine is in preventing Lyme disease and not all authors agree that the vaccine should be given in endemic regions. The vaccine can cause some blood tests for Lyme disease to become positive. For more information about tick control products or Lyme disease, consult your veterinarian. Lyme Disease : USDA ARS Lyme Disease Pathogen Lyme disease is caused by infection with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It was not until the 1970s that the association of these bacteria with what came to be known as Lyme disease was discovered. Borrelia belong to a category of bacteria known as spirochetes, so named because of their corkscrew-like appearance. Borrelia burgdorferi survive in the guts of certain ticks in the genus Ixodes, and enter host organisms in the saliva of the feeding ticks. In the eastern U. S. white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, are the principal reservoir hosts for B. burgdorferi , and it is from feeding on infected mice that ticks become infected. In susceptible animals these bacteria can reside in many types of tissue (e. g., muscle, nervous).

VECTOR Persons become infected with Borrelia burgdorferi when they are bitten by an infected tick. In the eastern and central U. S. the blacklegged tick, often referred to as the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, is the species responsible for transmitting B. burgdorferi to humans and other vertebrate hosts. In the Pacific coast states the western blacklegged tick, I. pacificus, fills the same role as I. scapularis as vector of B. burgdorferi. Both I. scapularis and I. pacificus are similar in appearance and biology. The blacklegged tick has 3 active life stages (larva, nymph and adult) that feed on a wide variety of vertebrate hosts, including birds and lizards, but most adults feed on white-tailed deer. Having found a host, larvae and nymphs feed 3-5 days, and adult females about 1 week then drop off the host. Although the life cycle of I. scapularis is about 2 years, each tick spends only about 2 weeks feeding on hosts. Life Cycle I.

scapularis feeds once during each of its 3 active life stages: larva, nymph, and adult Ixodes scapularis and I. pacificus have 3 feeding stages: larva, nymph and adult. In the eastern U. S., the six-legged larvae (later stages have 8 legs) hatch from eggs in the late spring/ early summer, and seek hosts through mid-summer. After feeding on a suitable host, such as a white-footed mouse, for 3-5 days, the larvae drop off the host, enter the leaf litter on the forest floor and molt into the nymphal stage. These unfed nymphs remain inactive in the leaf litter through the fall, winter and early spring. Around May the nymphs start seeking hosts. In the Mid-Atlantic states the greatest numbers of nymphs seek hosts in late May and June. In diminishing numbers, nymphs seek hosts until early fall. Nymphs feed on hosts for 3-5 days, drop off into the leaf litter, and molt into adults which begin seeking hosts in the fall. Adult I.

scapularis will seek hosts through the winter if temperatures are not too cold (below about 70C, 450F). Characteristically there is a spring peak of adult activity as temperatures rise. Although larvae and nymphs can feed on small, medium and large mammals as well as birds and reptiles, adult I. scapularis feed on large to medium-sized mammals, predominantly on white-tailed deer. Mated females feed about 1 week before dropping off the host. Fed females remain in the leaf litter where they can lay as many as 2,000 - 3,000 eggs. Acquiring a suitable host is critical to tick survival and reproduction. Ticks use various chemical cues produced by hosts that aid ticks in making physical contact with the hosts. Research conducted at PBESL has shown that ticks detect substances rubbed onto vegetation and the substrate by passing hosts influence where ticks wait in ambush for hosts. The life cycle of I. scapularis lasts about 2 years in the northeastern U. S. It takes about 2 years for I.

scapularis to complete its life cycle (Picture courtesy of the CDC) Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria causing Lyme disease is maintained in nature in I. scapularis and I. pacificus ticks and certain host species, chief of which is the white-footed mouse. A few bird species are also thought to be reservoir hosts. Crucial to maintenance of the cycle of B. burgdorferi between I. scapularis and reservoir hosts in the northeastern U. S., is the appearance of host-seeking nymphs (the second feeding stage) of one generation in late spring followed 2 months later by the host-seeking larvae (first feeding stage) of the next generation. Thus, infected nymphs infect mice in May and June, and in July uninfected larvae of the next tick generation acquire B. burgdorferi from the recently infected mice. Uninfected nymphs can be infected by feeding on infected mice, and maintain the infection into the adult stage. Most adult I. scapularis feed on white-tailed deer which are not reservoir hosts, although important to the tick life cycle. Transmission of B.

burgdorferi from an infected female tick to her offspring is apparently extremely limited. Larval I. scapularis readily bite people, but human Lyme disease infections are the result of bites by infected nymphal and to a lesser extent adult ticks. (Pictures courtesy of the CDC) Clinical disease in humans: Lyme disease is a multisystem illness involving the skin, nervous system, heart, and joints. Initially, symptoms resemble the onset of influenza, including severe headache, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, fever and possibly swollen lymph glands. About 60% of Lyme disease patients present with a characteristic "bull's eye" rash, or erythema migrans (EM) which appears at the site of the tick bite usually within 3 days to 1 month after the bite of an infected tick. Later stage symptoms may occur weeks after a tick bite and are more severe, including neurological complications such as facial palsy, irritability, and poor motor coordination. Further, cardiac problems including irregular heart beat and varying degrees of heart blockage causing dizziness may eventually occur. Third stage Lyme disease can occur months or years after the initial infection and may involve chronic arthritis or chronic neurological effects. Lyme disease is rarely, if ever fatal.

Prompt treatment with antibiotics during early stages of the disease affords complete recovery. However, later stages are more difficult to treat. For this reason, it is important for patients to receive prompt diagnosis. Lyme disease in cattle: Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi have been demonstrated in cattle in Europe, Australia, the UK and the US. Spirochetes have been detected from the blood and urine of cows in Wisconsin. At the present time, there is no set pattern of symptoms, diagnosis or treatment of the disease in cattle. Typically in the acute stage of the disease, dairy cattle may develop fever, stiffness and swollen joints, lameness, and their milk production decreases. Chronic weight loss, laminitis, and abortion have also been reported. A rash may occur at the site of the tick bite in some cases, but may be difficult to see, if it occurs at all. Unfortunately, the clinical signs of Lyme disease are very similar to other diseases common in cattle and the symptoms vary greatly among cows. Cross-reactivity to other organisms similar to B. burgdorferi may lead to false positive results in serological tests currently in use.

As in humans, an accurate diagnosis must include a history of potential exposure to the vector tick (Ixodes scapularis), appropriate clinical signs, elevated antibody titers to specific borrelial antigens, and a positive response to antibiotic treatment. Our lab is engaged in a project that is focused on evaluating the susceptibility of cattle to Lyme disease in this area. This project involves tick surveys in areas surrounding dairies and beef operations and employs the use of specifically designed DNA primers to detect the agent of Lyme disease in ticks and animal samples by PCR. Tick bite prevention can include personal protection and reduction of tick populations. Personal Protection Most cases of Lyme disease are the result of persons being bitten by nymphal I. scapularis. The vast majority of host-seeking nymphs and larvae of I. scapularis are found in leaf litter in and adjacent to woods. Nymphs are also frequently found on and about stone fences and fallen logs. Therefore, it is best to limit one's contact with leaf litter, and do not sit on stone fences and fallen logs. Wear light colored clothing so that it is easy to see ticks on it. Tuck pants legs into socks.

Carefully tape junctures of shoes, socks and pants legs with wide masking tape Entirely cover shoe laces with tape, because some species of ticks will enter shoes through eyelets and around tongue of shoe. Some larvae and occasionally nymphs can penetrate through the weave of some socks. Use repellents. Permethrin-based repellents should be used only on clothing. Deet-based repellents can be used on skin. PBESL in conjunction with the Chemicals Affecting Insect Behavior Laboratory, BARC and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD are evaluating the efficacy of tick repellents that can be used on human skin. Be careful about long hair that contacts shirt or coat collars. Ticks can crawl from collar to hair undetected. Examine yourself and children for ticks repeatedly after spending time in tick infested areas. You cannot depend on showering to remove ticks, especially attached ticks. Place clothing worn in tick infested areas in a closed plastic bag until washing it. Ticks can survive machine washing with cool water. Unlike mosquitoes, the process by which ixodid ticks feed is slow, lasting a few days.

In the case of Lyme disease, 24-36 hours of attachment are needed before transmission of B. burgdorferi starts. Other disease causing agents can be transmitted more quickly. Attached ticks should be removed as soon as possible. Tick removal. Attached ticks are best removed using forceps (tweezers) with slender points. The tick should be grasped with the forceps as close to the person's skin as possible. Grasping the tick farther from its mouthparts increases the chance of squeezing its gut contents into the person. Pull the tick from the skin slowly and firmly. Wash the bite area and apply a topical antibiotic to it. Because the early symptoms of many tick-borne illnesses are like those experienced with other ailments, such as the flu, it is prudent to see a physician, if you notice headache, fever, muscle pains, or other symptoms after having had a tick bite. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses caused by bacteria are generally respond to antibiotics, when treatments are started early. It is important that your physician knows about your tick bite. Tucking pants into socks and wrapping tape from shoe to pants helps keep ticks from legs and feet. '4-poster' deer self-treatment tick control device.

Population Control Habitat Management. Ixodes scapularis survive best under humid conditions. They are more apt to occur in woods and along the edges of woods than open expanses, such as closely mowed sunny lawns. Removing leaf litter and keeping lawns mowed limits the ticks' opportunities for finding humid refuges. Application of acaricides (insecticides) can reduce or prevent infestations of I. scapularis on one's land, if done annually, properly and at the correct time in the spring. In suburban sites, most host-seeking ticks occur in or near wooded areas, so chemical treatments are best directed there. Host self-treatment measures kill ticks on host animals. In one commercially available measure, cotton balls are impregnated with permethrin and stuffed in a cardboard tube. Mice remove the cotton balls and use them as nesting material. In the process the mouse's fur becomes treated with the acaricide which kills ticks. Another device is a bait box in which mice contact an acaricide when they enter or exit. Developed at the USDA, ARS, Knipling-Bushland U. S.

Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX, '4-poster' deer self-treatment device targets adult I. scapularis and other ticks that feed on deer. When the deer feed on corn bait they rub against paint rollers impregnated with insecticide. Because most adult I. scapularis feed on deer, '4-posters' can have large effect on a tick population over the range of the herd of deer visiting the device. The efficacy of the '4-poster' against I. scapularis is being evaluated in a nearly completed by 5-year, 5-state study, the USDA Northeast Area-Wide Tick Control Project, with 3 study sites in MD maintained by PBESL. Detection The major diagnostic marker for Lyme disease is the typical "bull's eye rash", or erythema migrans (EM) at the site of the original tick bite. EM occurs in about 60% of patients and when present this rash is particularly useful in clinical diagnosis, especially when accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headache, mild stiff neck, joint and muscle aches, and fever. Importantly, when and if the EM rash does occur, usually the tick has detached.

In many cases, patients do not remember being bitten. In those patients where the EM rash was either missed or not present, the first observable signs of Lyme disease may be third-stage nonspecific central nervous system (CNS) manifestations that can be confused with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, and psychiatric derangements. Isolation of B. burgdorferi in culture is the best diagnostic evidence of Lyme disease, but impractical. The spirochete has been isolated and successfully cultured from blood, spinal fluid and synovial fluid of patients with Lyme disease. Direct observation of the spirochete can be done with dark field microscopy, or with a variety of tissue stains, such as aniline dyes or silverstains. However, the number of spirochetes in peripheral circulation or captured in routine patient samples is low. Therefore the success rate of using these direct methods of detection is extremely low. A variety of serologic tests are currently in use for the detection of Lyme disease, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA), and the Western immunoblot (WB). These methods are indirect tests that detect the host or patient's response to the pathogen.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends a two-step test. The initial test is one of the more sensitive tests, either ELISA or IFA, followed by the more specific WB especially when results are positive or equivocal. Positive results for the IFA are titers greater than or equal to 1:62 and positive results for the ELISA are greater than or equal to 1:160. There are a number of difficulties in the use of serologic methods for diagnosis of Lyme disease. False positives can occur due to cross-reactivity to antibodies of a number of other spirochetes, (Treponema, and Leptospira), also found in humans which bear a close similarity to B. burgdorferi, or in patients who test positive for rheumatoid factor and Epstein Barr virus. Antibody titers to B. burgdorferi may not be detectable for the first week to two weeks post exposure (IgM), or may otherwise be affected by antibiotic treatment. Antibodies (IgG) to B. burgdorferi often persist for months or years following successfully treated or untreated infection.

Because of this, seroactivity alone cannot be used as a marker of active disease but may indicate possible exposure at some time. A number of researchers have developed a variety of genomic primers to amplify B. burgdorferi DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from ticks as well as patient samples. The PCR assay has been shown to be sensitive, rapid, repeatable, and accurate, and should greatly facilitate the diagnosis of Lyme disease, especially because the spirochete involved can be difficult or impossible to grow in culture. As with the other methods of detection, PCR has its drawbacks. The sample to be tested must contain at least one recoverable organism for the assay, and the PCR assay has yet to be standardized from lab to lab for routine diagnosis of Lyme disease. It has been shown that prompt treatment with antibiotics during early stages of Lyme disease affords complete recovery, but later stages are more difficult to cure. For this reason, it is important for patients to receive prompt and accurate diagnosis. As mentioned previously, the diagnosis of Lyme disease is often not straight forward. Both false positives and false negatives are common in standard serologic testing, generally due to the lack of sensitivity and specificity inherent in these types of tests.

When Lyme disease is suspected, physicians should take into account the patient's history of possible exposure to ticks in endemic areas, as well as clinical signs and response to antibiotic treatment. Epidemiology According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Lyme disease is now the most common vector-borne infection in humans in the United States. More than 16,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported to the CDC in 1999. Ninety-two percent of these were from the New England states. Some years the numbers are not as high, but according to the CDC Lyme disease is under-reported. Since its discovery in 1975, cases have been reported from Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the USSR. Lyme disease has been reported in domestic animals, including dogs, horses, and more recently, cattle. (Picture courtesy of the U.S. Army) Persons at risk for getting Lyme disease are those who live, work, or visit parks in endemic areas and frequent sites where infected ticks are common, such as wooded areas inhabited by white-tailed deer.

Lyme disease Causes - Mayo Clinic Deer tick In the United States, Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii bacteria, carried primarily by blacklegged or deer ticks. The ticks are brown and, when young, often no bigger than a poppy seed, which can make them nearly impossible to spot. To contract Lyme disease, an infected deer tick must bite you. The bacteria enter your skin through the bite and eventually make their way into your bloodstream. In most cases, to transmit Lyme disease, a deer tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours. If you find an attached tick looks swollen, it may have fed long enough to transmit bacteria. Removing the tick as soon as possible may prevent infection. Lyme disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed July 28, 2015. Hu L. Clinical manifestations of Lyme disease in adults. Accessed July 28, 2015. Hu L. Treatment of Lyme disease. Accessed July 28, 2015. Shapiro ED. Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease). Pediatrics in Review.

2014;35:500. Bismacine/chromacine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed July 28, 2015. Products and Services Lyme Disease in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospital Lyme Disease in Dogs Infectious Diseases, Zoonosis & Human Health December 11, 2008 What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. A spirochete is a type of bacterium. "Lyme disease is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick." Lyme disease is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick. Once in the blood stream, the Lyme disease organism is carried to many parts of the body and is likely to localize in joints. It was first thought that only a few types of ticks could transmit this disease, but now it appears that several common species may be involved. The most common type of tick to carry Lyme disease is the Deer Tick. Can Lyme disease also affect people? Yes, but people do not get it directly from dogs. They get it from being bitten by the same ticks that transmit it to dogs.

Therefore, preventing exposure to ticks is important for you and your dog. What are the clinical signs? Many people with Lyme disease develop a characteristic "bull's-eye" rash at the site of the bite within three to thirty days. If this occurs, the disease can be easily diagnosed at an early stage. Symptoms of Lyme disease are more difficult to detect in animals than in people. The characteristic rash does not develop in dogs or cats. Because the other symptoms of the disease may be delayed or go unrecognized and because the symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases, Lyme disease in animals is often not considered until other diseases have been eliminated. "Affected dogs have been described as if they were 'walking on eggshells'." Many dogs affected with Lyme disease are taken to a veterinarian because they seem to be experiencing generalized pain and have stopped eating. Affected dogs have been described as if they were "walking on eggshells." Often these pets have high fevers. Dogs may also begin limping. This painful lameness often appears suddenly and may shift from one leg to another. If untreated, it may eventually disappear, only to recur weeks or months later. Some pets are infected with the Lyme disease organism for over a year before they finally show symptoms.

By this time, the disease may be widespread throughout the body. How is Lyme disease diagnosed? Dogs with lameness, swollen joints, and fever are suspected of having Lyme disease. However, other diseases may also cause these symptoms. There are two blood tests that may be used for confirmation. The first is an antibody test. This test does not detect the actual spirochete in the blood but does detect the presence of antibodies created by exposure to the organism. A test can be falsely negative if the dog is infected but has not yet formed antibodies, or if it never forms enough antibodies to cause a positive reaction. This may occur in animals with suppressed immune systems. Some dogs that have been infected for long periods of time may no longer have enough antibodies present to be detected by the test. Therefore, a positive test is meaningful, but a negative is not. The second test is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, a DNA test that is very specific and sensitive. However, not all dogs have the spirochete in their blood cells. If a blood sample is tested, a false negative may occur. The best sample for PCR testing is the fluid from an affected joint. How is Lyme disease treated?

"Because the Lyme spirochete is a bacterium, it can be controlled by antibiotics." Because the Lyme spirochete is a bacterium, it can be controlled by antibiotics. However, a lengthy course of treatment is necessary to completely eradicate the organism. The initial antibiotic selected to treat an infected pet may not be effective against the disease, especially if the infection is long-standing. In this situation, changing to another antibiotic is often effective. Occasionally, the initial infection will recur, or the pet will become re-infected by being bitten by another infected tick. How can I prevent my dog from getting Lyme disease? The key to prevention is keeping your dog from being exposed to ticks. Ticks are found in grassy, wooded, and sandy areas. They find their way onto an animal by climbing to the top of a leaf, blade of grass, or short trees, especially cedar trees. Here they wait until their sensors detect an approaching animal on which to crawl or drop. Keeping animals from thick underbrush reduces their exposure to ticks. Dogs should be kept on trails when walked near wooded or tall grass areas. Vaccination against Lyme disease is recommended for pets that live in endemic areas or that travel to areas where Lyme disease is prevalent.

How do I remove a tick from my dog? Check your pet immediately after it has been in a tick-infected area. The Deer Tick is a small tick and only about pinhead size in juvenile stage, but a little more obvious in adult phase and after feeding. If you find a tick moving on your pet, the tick has not fed. Remove the tick promptly and place it in rubbing alcohol or crush it between two solid surfaces. If you find a tick attached to your pet, grasp the tick with fine tweezers or your finger nails near the dog's skin and firmly pull it straight out. Make sure you protect your fingers from exposure by using a tissue or a disposable glove. You may need another person to help restrain your dog. Removing the tick quickly is important since the disease does not appear to be transmitted until the tick has fed for approximately twelve hours. If you crush the tick, do not get the tick's contents, including blood, on your skin. The spirochete that causes Lyme disease can pass through a wound or cut in your skin. Is there a vaccine that will protect my dog from Lyme disease? A safe and effective vaccine is available for protecting dogs against Lyme disease.

This vaccine is initially given twice, at two- to three-week intervals. "Annual revaccination is necessary to maintain immunity." Annual revaccination is necessary to maintain immunity. Vaccination against Lyme disease will be determined by your pet's lifestyle and individual risk assessment. Be sure to discuss any questions you may have regarding the type and frequency of vaccination with your veterinarian. This client information sheet is based on material written by: Ernest Ward, DVM © Copyright 2009 Lifelearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. What Causes Lyme Disease? | Bay Area Lyme Foundation Bay Area Lyme Foundation What Causes Lyme Disease? Borrelia Burgdorferi Lyme disease is an infection caused by several strains of the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). The bacteria is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick. These ticks can also transmit other diseases and infect pets and livestock. The tick that transmits Lyme is so small you may not notice it. The tick’s saliva contains an anesthetic-like substance that numbs your skin so you may not feel the bite. The ticks that spread Lyme are typically no larger than a sesame seed (or the size of a period at the end of a sentence).

It is thought that nymphs infect more humans than adult ticks because they are so hard to see. The Blacklegged Tick In the United States, the Western blacklegged tick , or Ixodes pacificus, is responsible for spreading Lyme disease on the West Coast. On the East Coast and in several mid-western states, it is the Eastern blacklegged tick , also known as the “deer tick,” or Ixodes scapularis, that spreads Lyme. All in all, according to Lyle Peterson from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 80 million Americans living in areas of highest risk for Lyme disease where these ticks are common. Host Animals A tick emerges from an egg and feeds on different animals (or “hosts”) during its larval, nymph, and adult stages. A tick can live for several years on just a handful of blood meals. The tick most often becomes infected during its larval or nymph stage, when it feeds off small animals like squirrels, mice, or birds that carry the bacteria which causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi or Bb). These animals can also carry other bacteria.

Click here to watch a video detailing the ways ticks stick to the skin (with accompanying article from The New York Times, published October 29, 2013). The tick, now infected, then passes on the bacteria to a human or another animal during its next feeding cycle. The small animal most responsible for transmitting the Bb bacteria to ticks varies by region. In California, the grey squirrel is the biggest culprit. For example, studies have shown that 86% of tick larvae carrying Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) were infected by the western grey squirrel. (Salkeld et al, 2008) On the East Coast, the white-footed mouse is the primary host. Birds and many small mammals can also harbor Lyme bacteria. Notably, the white-tailed deer supports the tick, but not the spirochete. These hosts provide the ticks with a bountiful supply of food (i.e., blood meals), enabling the ticks to live, reproduce, and/or infect a human. Interestingly, research by Dr. Robert Lane and others at the University of California at Berkeley, has documented that when ticks feed off a Western Fence lizard, the Bb bacteria inside them is destroyed.

These lizards use the complement pathway of their immune system to destroy the Bb bacteria with proteins that burst the bacterial cells. Understanding this phenomenon may provide insights into treatments for humans. Western Fence Lizard Lyme Disease Lyme Disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Publication date: 01/01/1991 POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS DOCUMENT: LYME DISEASE Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975, after a mysterious outbreak of arthritis near Lyme, Connecticut. Since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically, and the disease has become an important public health problem in some areas of the United States. Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a member of the family of spirochetes, or corkscrew-shaped bacteria. How the disease is spread Lyme disease is spread by the bite of ticks of the genus Ixodes that are infected with Borrelia burgdorferi.

The deer (or bear) tick, Ixodes dammini, which normally feeds on the white-footed mouse, the white-tailed deer, other mammals, and birds, is responsible for transmitting Lyme disease bacteria to humans in the northeastern and north-central United States. (In these regions, this tick is also responsible for the spreading of babesiosis, a disease caused by a malaria-like parasite.) On the Pacific Coast, the bacteria are transmitted to humans by the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, and in the southeastern states possibly by the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Ixodes ticks are much smaller than common dog and cattle ticks. In their larval and nymphal stages, they are no bigger than a pinhead. Adult ticks are slightly larger. Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but often attach to the more hidden and hairy areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. Research in the eastern United States has indicated that, for the most part, ticks transmit Lyme disease to humans during the nymph stage, probably because nymphs are more likely to feed on a person and are rarely noticed because of their small size (less than 2 mm).

Thus, the nymphs typically have ample time to feed and transmit the infection (ticks are most likely to transmit infection after approximately 2 or more days of feeding). Tick larvae are smaller than the nymphs, but they rarely carry the infection at the time of feeding and are probably not important in the transmission of Lyme disease to humans. Adult ticks can transmit the disease, but since they are larger and more likely to be removed from a person's body within a few hours, they are less likely than the nymphs to have sufficient time to transmit the infection. Moreover, adult Ixodes ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year, when outdoor activity is limited. Ticks search for host animals from the tips of grasses and shrubs (not from trees) and transfer to animals or persons that brush against vegetation. Ticks only crawl; they do not fly or jump. Ticks found on the scalp usually have crawled there from lower parts of the body. Ticks feed on blood by inserting their mouth parts (not their whole bodies) into the skin of a host animal. They are slow feeders: a complete blood meal can take several days. As they feed, their bodies slowly enlarge.

Although in theory Lyme disease could spread through blood transfusions or other contact with infected blood or urine, no such transmission has been documented. There is no evidence that a person can get Lyme disease from the air, food or water, from sexual contact, or directly from wild or domestic animals. There is no convincing evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes, flies, or fleas. Campers, hikers, outdoor workers, and others who frequent wooded, brushy, and grassy places are commonly exposed to ticks, and this may be important in the transmission of Lyme disease in some areas. Because new homes are often built in wooded areas, transmission of Lyme disease near homes has become an important problem in some areas of the United States. The risk of exposure to ticks is greatest in the woods and garden fringe areas of properties, but ticks may also be carried by animals into lawns and gardens. Geographic distribution Lyme disease has a wide distribution in northern temperate regions of the world. In the United States, the highest incidence occurs in the Northeast, from Massachusetts to Maryland. North-central states, especially Wisconsin and Minnesota. West Coast, particularly northern California.

For Lyme disease to exist in an area, at least three closely interrelated elements must be present in nature: the Lyme disease bacteria, ticks that can transmit them, and mammals (such as mice and deer) to provide food for the ticks in their various life stages. Ticks that transmit Lyme disease can be found in temperate regions that may have periods of very low or high temperature and a constant high relative humidity at ground level. Life cycle of Lyme disease ticks Knowing the complex life cycle of the ticks that transmit Lyme disease is important in understanding the risk of acquiring the disease and in finding ways to prevent it. The life cycle of these ticks requires 2 years to complete. Adult ticks feed and mate on large animals, especially deer, in the fall and early spring. Female ticks then drop off these animals to lay eggs on the ground. By summer, eggs hatch into larvae. Larvae feed on mice and other small mammals and birds in the summer and early fall and then are inactive until the next spring when they molt into nymphs. Nymphs feed on small rodents and other small mammals and birds in the late spring and summer and molt into adults in the fall, completing the 2-year life cycle.

Larvae and nymphs typically become infected with Lyme disease bacteria when they feed on infected small animals, particularly the white-footed mouse. The bacteria remain in the tick as it changes from larva to nymph or from nymph to adult. Infected nymphs and adult ticks then bite and transmit Lyme disease bacteria to other small rodents, other animals, and humans, all in the course of their normal feeding behavior. Lyme disease in domestic animals Domestic animals may become infected with Lyme disease bacteria and some of these (dogs, for instance) may develop arthritis. Domestic animals can carry infected ticks into areas where humans live, but whether pet owners are more likely than others to get Lyme disease is unknown. Symptoms and signs of Lyme disease Early Lyme Disease: The early stage of Lyme disease is usually marked by one or more of the following symptoms and signs: fatigue swollen lymph nodes a characteristic skin rash, called erythema migrans Erythema migrans is a red circular patch that appears usually 3 days to 1 month after the bite of an infected tick at the site of the bite. The patch then expands, often to a large size. Sometimes many patches appear, varying in shape, depending on their location.

Common sites are the thigh, groin, trunk, and the armpits. The center of the rash may clear as it enlarges, resulting in a bulls-eye appearance. The rash may be warm, but it usually is not painful. Not all rashes that occur at the site of a tick bite are due to Lyme disease, however. For example, an allergic reaction to tick saliva often occurs at the site of a tick bite. The resulting rash can be confused with the rash of Lyme disease. Allergic reactions to tick saliva usually occur within hours to a few days after the tick bite, usually do not expand, and disappear within a few days. Late Lyme Disease: Some symptoms and signs of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite: Arthritis is most likely to appear as brief bouts of pain and swelling, usually in one or more large joints, especially the knees. Nervous system abnormalities can include numbness, pain, Bell's palsy (paralysis of the facial muscles, usually on one side), and meningitis (fever, stiff neck, and severe headache). Less frequently, irregularities of the heart rhythm occur.

In some persons the rash never forms; in some, the first and only sign of Lyme disease is arthritis, and in others, nervous system problems are the only evidence of Lyme disease. Lyme disease and pregnancy In rare cases, Lyme disease acquired during pregnancy may lead to infection of the fetus and possibly to stillbirth, but adverse effects to the fetus have not been conclusively documented. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a registry of pregnant women with Lyme disease to advance the understanding of the effects of Lyme disease on the developing fetus. Diagnosis Lyme disease is often difficult to diagnose because its symptoms and signs mimic those of many other diseases. The fever, muscle aches, and fatigue of Lyme disease can easily be mistaken for viral infections, such as influenza or infectious mononucleosis. Joint pain can be mistaken for other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and neurologic signs can mimic those caused by other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. At the same time, other types of arthritis or neurologic diseases can be misdiagnosed as Lyme disease. Diagnosis of Lyme disease should take into account History of possible exposure to ticks, especially in areas where Lyme disease is known to occur. Symptoms and signs.

The results of blood tests used to determine whether the patient has antibodies to Lyme disease bacteria. These tests are most useful in later stages of illness, but even then they may give inaccurate results. Laboratory tests for Lyme disease have not yet been standardized nationally. Treatment and prognosis Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics under the supervision of a physician. Several antibiotics are effective. Antibiotics usually are given by mouth but may be given intravenously in more severe cases. Patients treated in the early stages with antibiotics usually recover rapidly and completely. Most patients who are treated in later stages of the disease also respond well to antibiotics. In a few patients who are treated for Lyme disease, symptoms of persisting infection may continue or recur, making additional antibiotic treatment necessary. Varying degrees of permanent damage to joints or the nervous system can develop in patients with late chronic Lyme disease. Typically these are patients in whom Lyme disease was unrecognized in the early stages or for whom the initial treatment was unsuccessful. Rare deaths from Lyme disease have been reported. Prevention Tick Control: Removing leaves and clearing brush and tall grass around houses and at the edges of gardens may reduce the numbers of ticks that transmit Lyme disease.

This is particularly important in the eastern United States, where most transmission of Lyme disease is thought to occur near the home. A relationship has been observed between the abundance of deer and the abundance of deer ticks in the eastern United States. Applying acaricides (chemicals that are toxic to ticks) to gardens, lawns, and the edge of woodlands near homes is being done in some areas, but questions remain regarding its effectiveness and environmental safety. Application to residential properties should be supervised by a licensed professional pest control expert. Reducing and managing deer populations in geographic areas where Lyme disease occurs may reduce tick abundance. Removing plants that attract deer and constructing physical barriers may help discourage deer from coming near homes. Personal protection from tick bites The chances of being bitten by a tick can be decreased with a few precautions. Avoid tick-infested areas, especially in May, June, and July (many local health departments and park or extension services have information on the local distribution of ticks). Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be spotted more easily. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants. Tape the area where pants and socks meet so that ticks cannot crawl under clothing.

Spray insect repellent containing DEET on clothes and on exposed skin other than the face, or treat clothes (especially pants, socks, and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact. Wear a hat and a long-sleeved shirt for added protection. Walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging grass and brush. After being outdoors, remove clothing and wash and dry it at a high temperature; inspect body carefully and remove attached ticks with tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pulling straight back with a slow steady force; aviod crushing the tick's body. In some areas, ticks (saved in a sealed container) can be submitted to the local health department for identification. Preventive Antibiotic Treatment: Antibiotic treatment to prevent Lyme disease after a known tick bite may not be warranted. Physicians must determine whether the advantages of using antibiotics outweigh the disadvantages in any particular instance. If antibiotics are not used, physicians should alert patients to the symptoms of early Lyme disease and advise them to return for reevaluation if symptoms occur. Lyme disease research Where ticks are most likely to be and how best to protect against them.

Which chemicals and other approaches are best for controlling ticks in each kind of habitat. Better diagnostic tests. An effective vaccine. Effects of mother's infection on the developing fetus. How Lyme disease bacteria cause chronic infections of the joints and nervous system and how to prevent these complications. For further information, contact the CDC Voice Information System at (404) 332-4555, your physician, or your local health department. POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS DOCUMENT: To request a copy of this document or for questions concerning this document, please contact the person or office listed below. If requesting a document, please specify the complete name of the document as well as the address to which you would like it mailed. Note that if a name is listed with the address below, you may wish to contact this person via CDC WONDER/PC e-mail. CAROL D SNAREY DIVISION OF VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASES Centers for Disease Control 1600 Clifton Rd, NE MS(C-14) Atlanta, GA 30333 This page last reviewed: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 This information is provided as technical reference material.

Please contact us at cwus@cdc.gov to request a simple text version of this document. Lyme Disease in Dogs, Cats | Tick Diseases in Dogs, Cats | petMD Tick-Borne Diseases and Your Pet By Jennifer Kvamme, DVM Protecting your cat or dog (or both) from ticks is an important part of disease prevention. In fact, there are several diseases that can be transmitted to your pet from a tick bite. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases seen in the United States are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. Here we will briefly discuss these and some of the other tick-borne diseases that affect dogs and cats. Lyme Disease Also called borreliosis , Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks carry these bacteria, transmitting them to the animal while sucking its blood. The tick must be attached to the dog (or cat) for about 48 hours in order to transmit the bacteria to the animal’s bloodstream. If the tick is removed before this, transmission will usually not occur. Common signs of Lyme disease include lameness, fever, swollen lymph nodes and joints, and a reduced appetite.

In severe cases, animals may develop kidney disease, heart conditions, or nervous system disorders. Animals do not develop the tell-tale "lyme disease rash" that is commonly seen in humans with Lyme disease. Blood tests are necessary to diagnose Lyme disease in pets. If the results are positive, oral antibiotics are given as treatment for the condition. Dogs that have already had Lyme disease are able to get the disease again — they are not immunized against it — so prevention is key. A vaccine for Lyme disease is available for dogs, but unfortunately, the vaccine is not available for cats. If you live in an area where these ticks are endemic, you should have your dogs vaccinated yearly. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever A disease seen commonly in dogs in the east, Midwest, and plains region of the U.S. is Rocky Mountain spotted fever ( RMSF ). Cats can be infected with RMSF, but the incidence is much lower for them. The organisms that cause RMSF are transmitted by the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain spotted fever tick. The tick must be attached to the dog or cat for at least five hours in order for transmission of the organism to occur.

Signs of RMSF may include fever, reduced appetite, depression, pain in the joints, lameness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some animals may develop heart abnormalities, pneumonia, kidney failure, liver damage, or even neurological signs (e.g., seizures, stumbling). Blood tests can show antibodies to the organism, signifying that the animal has been infected. Oral antibiotics are used for about two weeks to treat the infection. Animals that are able to clear the organism will recover and remain immune to future infection. However, if your dog or cat has heart, liver, or kidney damage, and/or the nervous system has been affected by the infection, it may require additional supportive treatment, generally in hospital. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent RMSF, so tick control is very important for animals living in endemic areas. Ehrlichiosis Another tick-borne disease that affects dogs is ehrlichiosis . It is transmitted by the brown dog tick and the Lone Star Tick. This disease is caused by a rickettsial organism and has been seen in every state in the U.S., as well as worldwide. Common symptoms include depression, reduced appetite (anorexia), fever, stiff and painful joints, and bruising.

Signs typically appear less than a month after a tick bite and last for about four weeks. Special blood tests may be needed to test for antibodies to Ehrlichia. Antibiotics are usually given for up to four weeks to completely clear the organism. After infection, the animal may develop antibodies to the organism, but will not be immune to reinfection. There is no vaccine available for ehrlichiosis. Low doses of antibiotics may be recommended for animals during tick season in areas of the country that are endemic to this disease. Anaplasmosis Deer ticks and western black-legged ticks carry the bacteria that transmit canine anaplasmosis. Another form of anaplasmosis (caused by a different bacteria) is carried by the brown dog tick. Both dogs and cats are at risk for this condition. Because the deer tick also carries other diseases, some animals may be at risk for developing more than one tick-borne disease at a time. Signs of anaplasmosis are similar to ehrlichiosis and include pain in the joints, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and possible nervous system disorders. Pets will usually begin to show signs of disease within a couple weeks after infection.

Diagnosis of anaplasmosis will usually require blood tests, urine tests, and sometimes other specialized lab tests. Oral antibiotics are given for up to a month for treatment of anaplasmosis, depending on the severity of the infection. When treated promptly, most pets will recover completely. Immunity is not guaranteed after a bout of anaplasmosis, so pets may be reinfected if exposed again. Tick Paralysis Tick paralysis is caused by a toxin secreted by ticks. The toxin affects the nervous system in mammals. Dogs affected become weak and limp, while cats don’t appear to have much trouble with the condition. Signs begin about a week after an animal is first bitten by ticks. It typically begins with a weakness in the rear legs, eventually involving all four limbs, followed by difficulty breathing and swallowing. Death may result if the condition progresses further. If ticks are found on the animal, removing them should cause a rapid recovery. Depending on the severity of the condition, supportive treatment (e.g., breathing assistance) may be needed for survival. An antitoxin is available, which can be given if the condition is discovered quickly.

Haemobartonellosis A disease that is transmitted by both ticks and fleas is haemobartonellosis . It is caused by an organism that targets red blood cells in the affected animal, leading to anemia and weakness. This condition affects both cats and dogs. In cats, the condition is also known as feline infectious anemia . In dogs, the disease is usually not apparent unless the animal already has underlying issues. Diagnosis of haemobartonellosis is done by examining blood samples to look for the organism. Specialized lab tests are also available. Treatment with antibiotics must be given for several weeks, and transfusions may be necessary for some animals. Tularemia Also known as rabbit fever, tularemia is caused by a bacteria carried by four varieties of ticks in North America. Fleas may also carry and transmit tularemia to dogs and cats. Cats are usually more affected by this condition than dogs. Symptoms in dogs are reduced appetite, depression, and a mild fever. Cats will exhibit high fever, swollen lymph nodes, nasal discharge, and possibly abscesses at the site of the tick bite. Younger animals are usually at higher risk of contracting tularemia.

Blood tests are generally taken to look for antibodies to the bacteria that cause tularemia, signifying exposure and probable infection. Antibiotics are given to treat this condition in positively identified animals. There is no preventive vaccine for this condition, so keeping cats indoors and using flea and tick control measures are important. Restricting your pet from hunting rodents, rabbits, and animals that carry the disease will also help protect your pet from acquiring the disease. Babesiosis (Piroplasmosis) Protozoa, those tiny single celled animal-like organisms, are the parties to blame when dogs and cats are diagnosed with babesiosis . Ticks transmit the protozoan organism to animals, where it sets itself up in the red blood cells, causing anemia. Babesiosis is usually seen in the southern U.S., but can also be found in the northeastern part of the country. Signs of babesiosis in dogs are typically severe. They include pale gums, depression, dark-colored urine, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, the animal may collapse suddenly and go into shock. Blood and urine tests, as well as specialized diagnostic testing, will be used to look for signs of the organism in the affected animal.

Dogs that survive the disease will usually remain infected and future relapses may occur. There is no vaccine available for protection from babesiosis. Cytauxzoonosis Cats are the species at risk for being infected with cytauxzoonosis . This parasitic disease is transmitted by ticks and is more commonly reported in the south central and southeast United States. Cats typically become very ill when infected, as the parasite affects many parts of the body. Cats may develop anemia, depression, high fever, difficulty breathing, and jaundice (i.e., yellowing of the skin). Treatment is often unsuccessful, and death can occur in as short as one week following infection. Immediate and aggressive treatment with specialized drugs, intravenous fluids and supportive care are typically necessary. Cats that recover from cytauxzoonosis may be carriers of the disease for life. There is no vaccine for this disease, so tick prevention is important. American Canine Hepatozoonosis Dogs in the south central and southeastern United States are at greater risk for contracting American canine hepatozoonosis (ACH). The Gulf Coast tick carries this particular disease.

This tick-borne disease is brought on by the actual ingestion of a nymphal or adult stage tick, rather than by transmission through attachment and biting of the dog's skin by the tick. It is suspected that the ingestion takes place during self grooming, or when the dog eats an infected animal. Infection is severe and often fatal. Symptoms include high fever, stiffness and pain upon movement, weight loss, and complete loss of appetite. The muscles will begin to waste away, an outward symptom that will become most apparent around the dog’s head. Discharge from the eyes is also very common. Tests can be done to find the parasites in the dog’s blood, discharge, or muscle tissue. Treatment with anti-parasitic drugs, along with anti-inflammatories and antibiotics, is necessary for some time after diagnosis. If the dog recovers, follow-up medication for several years may be necessary, as a relapse of this disease is possible. Signs and Symptoms | Lyme Disease | CDC Signs and symptoms ShareCompartir Untreated Lyme disease can produce a wide range of symptoms, depending on the stage of infection. These include fever, rash, facial paralysis, and arthritis.

Seek medical attention if you observe any of these symptoms and have had a tick bite, live in an area known for Lyme disease, or have recently traveled to an area where Lyme disease occurs . Early Signs and Symptoms (3 to 30 days after tick bite) Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes Erythema migrans (EM) rash: Occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of infected persons Begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of 3 to 30 days (average is about 7 days) Expands gradually over a period of days reaching up to 12 inches or more (30 cm) across May feel warm to the touch but is rarely itchy or painful Sometimes clears as it enlarges, resulting in a target or “bull's-eye” appearance May appear on any area of the body Later Signs and Symptoms (days to months after tick bite) Severe headaches and neck stiffness Additional EM rashes on other areas of the body Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints.

Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face) Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones Heart palpitations or an irregular heart beat ( Lyme carditis ) Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord Nerve pain Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet Problems with short-term memory Lyme Disease Symptoms and Treatment What if my dog brings the ticks in the home? May 20, 2016 -- The tick responsible for Lyme disease is showing up in new areas in the U.S., a worrisome trend. Although the majority of cases are still reported in the Northeast, the black-legged tick -- also known as the deer or bear tick -- has been found as far south as Florida and as far north as Canada, data from the CDC show. And while experts say it’s impossible to forecast how bad this tick season from about spring to winter will be, cases have been trending upward - doubling nationwide between 1995 and 2014.

CDC epidemiologist Paul Mead, MD, says there’s been a steady, gradual increase in cases of the disease and the areas where the ticks live. “It’s like a bomb going off; it’s spreading in all directions,” says Mead, chief of epidemiology and surveillance activity, Bacterial Diseases Branch. For most people, the disease causes flu-like symptoms. About 80% of people who get it fully recover by taking antibiotics , says John Aucott, MD, of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center. Mead and Aucott shared more about the disease and what to expect this year and beyond. What’s driving up Lyme numbers? A worldwide warming trend has made more northern areas like Canada, Maine, and Minnesota hospitable to ticks . But the number of deer -- which carry the ticks -- probably plays a bigger role, says Mead. “Land use, forestry growth, and how many people develop homes in areas with large deer populations are among the factors driving this long-term trend,” he says. Public health officials report between 30,000 and 36,000 cases of the disease a year (although experts believe the number is closer to 300,000).

The ticks are most active in May, June, and early July, Mead says. Where is the black-legged tick population concentrated? The Northeast continues to have the most concentrated areas of Lyme cases. But the black-legged tick is now present in nearly half of U.S. counties in 43 states, a jump of nearly 45% since 1998, according to a recent CDC report. The majority of the tick population growth has been in the North-central and Northeast.

Question: What animal causes lyme disease?
Answer: Tick