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Can be dangerous to dogs
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is one of several tick-borne diseases that affect dogs. Caused by a bacterium called Rickettsia rickettsii (R. rickettsii), which is transmitted through tick bites, RMSF can be dangerous to dogs.
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Among the numerous related Rickettsia species, R rickettsii 's ability to infect dogs is best-documented. The ability of genetically similar rickettsial organisms, such as R parkeri , to cause clinically similar disease in dogs is unknown.
- Canine Ehrlichiosis
- Canine Anaplasmosis
- Canine Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Diagnosing and Differentiating Rickettsial Infections in Dogs
- Treatment
- Follow-Up and Prevention
- Conclusion
Transmission and Prevalence
Ehrlichiosis is a rickettsial disease caused by infection with Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, or a combination of these and other tick-borne pathogens. E. canis is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, while E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii are both transmitted by Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick (TABLE 1). Ehrlichiosis is an important disease of dogs, and in 2018, 2.94% of tested U.S. dogs had antibodies to an Ehrlichia species (FIGURE...
Clinical Signs
The clinical manifestations of ehrlichiosis vary according to Ehrlichia species and strain, host immune response and overall health, infectious dose of the pathogen, and co-infections acquired during tick feeding. Domestic dogs are the maintenance host for E. canisand all life stages of its tick vector, which can lead to large numbers of animals exposed to a high infectious dose of the bacteria. Canine ehrlichiosis from E. canis infection is a febrile disease characterized by myalgia, splenom...
Transmission and Prevalence
Infection with either Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Anaplasma platys can result in clinical disease in dogs. A. phagocytophilum is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, and I. pacificus, the blacklegged and Western blacklegged ticks, respectively, and A. platys is transmitted by R. sanguineus. In 2018, 3.23% of tested U.S. dogs had antibodies to an Anaplasma species, with the highest prevalence in the Northeast and upper Midwest regions of the United States, associated predominantly with Ixodes tr...
Clinical Signs
Clinical manifestations of anaplasmosis differ depending on the infecting species. Dogs infected with A. phagocytophilum often present with a fever and lameness due to a neutrophilic polyarthritis. Other pathologic changes consistent with a tick-borne infection, such as lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, are also possible. Many serologically positive dogs remain clinically normal, but clinical signs may appear later in conjunction with an immunosuppressive event (e.g., course of steroids).8 Th...
Transmission
Of the rickettsial diseases of dogs, RMSF, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, is the most life threatening. The geographic distribution of cases is not as clearly defined as the other diseases discussed owing to a lack of nationwide surveillance, nonspecific diagnostic tests, and changing tick vectors. Historically, R. rickettsii was known to be transmitted by Dermacentor variabilis and Dermacentor andersoni ticks in the United States. That changed in 2003 with a reported outbreak of RMSF assoc...
Clinical Signs
Because R. rickettsiiinfects vascular endothelial cells, the resulting vasculitis can cause a range of clinical signs depending on where the infection develops and how disseminated it is. Dogs with RMSF typically present with a fever (102°F to 105°F) approximately 4 to 7 days after exposure. Widespread, abundant petechial hemorrhages on the mucous membranes or buccal cavity, macular to maculopapular skin rash, ocular or nasal discharge, and vascular injection of the sclera may also be seen. O...
A variety of diagnostic tests can assist with accurate diagnosis of tick-borne rickettsial infections in dogs, but interpreting their results can be challenging. Therefore, multiple diagnostic tests or treatment before definitive diagnosis may be necessary for dogs with severe clinical signs. The hallmark clinicopathologic finding of these ricketts...
While definitive diagnosis is an important step in good antimicrobial stewardship, delaying treatment can have grave consequences for rickettsemic patients, especially dogs with RMSF. Prompt initiation of antibacterial and supportive treatment for dogs with clinical signs consistent with a tick-borne rickettsial infection is the most prudent way to...
Treated animals can maintain detectable antibody levels for at least a year, and possibly for their entire life. A negative PCR result after treatment is an indicator that treatment was successful, but dogs can still be infected at levels below detectable limits and become clinically ill in the future. The long-term antibodies are not protective, a...
These rickettsial pathogens are a significant medical concern to canine health. Changing tick distributions and nonspecific clinical signs can make identifying infected pets challenging, and the currently available diagnostic tests should be interpreted in light of the clinical presentation. Response to antibiotic therapy continues to be a necessar...
Rickettsia bacteria are spread to canines by ticks, specifically the brown dog tick, the American dog tick, and the Rocky Mountain wood tick, with several other species implicated depending on the country of residence. When a tick feeds on a dog, the bite may be contaminated by the arthropod's saliva, which leads to a bacterial infection.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a disease caused by an infectious bacterium called Rickettsia rickettsii, which can only survive within its host’s cells. RMSF occurs in North, South, and Central America and is widespread throughout the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and the eastern United States, as well as in parts of Canada.
Jun 1, 2023 · Caused by a bacterium called Rickettsia rickettsii (R. rickettsii), which is transmitted through tick bites, RMSF can be dangerous to dogs. Knowing the risk factors, signs, diagnosis and...
Nov 9, 2020 · There are more than 25 species of tick-borne, spotted-fever group Rickettsia species worldwide, with R. rickettsii being one of the most virulent and dangerous. For dogs, R. rickettsii is the only known spotted fever group Rickettsia that causes clinical disease in North America.
Nov 18, 2020 · Of these, R. rickettsii is one of the most virulent, and the only bacteria in the RMSF group known to cause clinical disease among dogs in North America. The symptoms of RMSF in dogs are similar to those in people: fever, lethargy, weight loss, rash, and pain, among others.
