Post by IH Health on Jan 22, 2009 15:08:43 GMT 1
Lymes Disease and Ticks
Also known as
Borreliosis, Borrelia
What is it?
Lymes Disease is an infection that comes from the bite of an infected tick – it can affect any living organism, including horses and humans. If left untreated it can affect the circulatory system, joints and nervous system.
Types
None, Lymes Disease is Lymes Disease!
Causes
A bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected tick by the bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi ) or through ‘blood meals’
Symptoms
Because Lymes Disease can affect many parts of the body, many symptoms can occur and there is no general given period that the symptoms can occur – some cases it is days, some cases it is years. However, the following general symptoms are recognised:
A red spot around the location of the tick's bite. The spot will gradually grow bigger, often with a pale area in the middle. This symptom is called erythema migrans. These can then appear in other locations on the body.
* Drowsiness
* Headaches
* Mild fever
* Joint and muscle pains
* Swollen lymph glands.
* General flu like feelings.
Horses:
It is estimated that only 10% of horses with Lymes Disease will show clinical symptoms.^ However symptoms may include:
* Lameness and joint swelling
* Constant shifting of weight
* Fever
* Laminitis
* General stiffness
* Unwilingness to work
* Irratibaility
Diagnosis
Diagnosis in horses is difficult as blood tests detect antibodies to the ticks – not necessarily Lymes Disease itself. Because most horses are exposed to ticks this may give a false positive on the test. Usually the vet will take a history of the horse and run elimination tests to make a judgement as to whether the horse could have the disease.
Treatment
The first thing is to remove any ticks (this should be done when any tick is present to reduce the risk of Lymes). See section below for removal techniques. Treatment is then treated with antibiotics. During this treatment it is vital for the owner and vet to keep an eye out for laminitis as it is a known side affect.
Correct Tick Removal
How a tick is removed is extremely important. Incorrect removal can result in:
* The tick's mouth parts being left behind in the skin.
* Compression of the tick's abdomen.
* Puncture of the tick's body.
* Injury and stress to the tick.
These in turn can result in localised infection from foreign bodies and the introduction of infective organisms from the tick's stomach contents and saliva.
Leaving behind the tick's mouth parts can result in septic abscesses which, in severe cases, can lead to septicaemia.
Compressing the tick's abdomen can cause its stomach contents to be squeezed back into the blood stream of its host.
Puncturing the body of the tick can spill its stomach contents, which may contain infective organisms.
Causing injury or stress to the tick can result in it regurgitating the blood meal that it has ingested. This may contain infective organisms and result in the host contracting a serious infection/s.
Stress to the tick can result from applying solutions such as alcohol, aftershave, oils / butter, paraffin or petroleum jelly. It can also result from applying a freezing agent or burning the tick with a cigarette, lighter, or match head.
These methods might be successful in getting a tick to release its grip, but they can also significantly increase the chances of disease transmission.
There are only two safe ways to remove an attached tick:
* With Fine-tipped Tweezers
* With a Tick-removal Tool
The best way to avoid contracting a tick-borne disease is to avoid tick attachment in the first place. For simple preventative measures, see our Top Ten Tips, and to keep pets safe, see our Tick Prevention page.
Taken from the BADA-UK site
Websites (click on title for link)
Lymes Disease Association
Dartmoor Cam
Equine Rescue France
Equine Vet Clinic
Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness UK
Previous discussions (click on title for link)
Ticks
Critters
Dealing with Ticks
PLEASE ALSO SEE THE POST ON PIROPLASMOSIS IN THIS SECTION
Please post below any information you have on the subject of colic or of your experiences in diagnosis/treatment/aftercare. All information given is for reference only and does not constitute or should replace qualified veterinarian advice.
^ Net Pets
Also known as
Borreliosis, Borrelia
What is it?
Lymes Disease is an infection that comes from the bite of an infected tick – it can affect any living organism, including horses and humans. If left untreated it can affect the circulatory system, joints and nervous system.
Types
None, Lymes Disease is Lymes Disease!
Causes
A bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected tick by the bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi ) or through ‘blood meals’
Symptoms
Because Lymes Disease can affect many parts of the body, many symptoms can occur and there is no general given period that the symptoms can occur – some cases it is days, some cases it is years. However, the following general symptoms are recognised:
A red spot around the location of the tick's bite. The spot will gradually grow bigger, often with a pale area in the middle. This symptom is called erythema migrans. These can then appear in other locations on the body.
* Drowsiness
* Headaches
* Mild fever
* Joint and muscle pains
* Swollen lymph glands.
* General flu like feelings.
Horses:
It is estimated that only 10% of horses with Lymes Disease will show clinical symptoms.^ However symptoms may include:
* Lameness and joint swelling
* Constant shifting of weight
* Fever
* Laminitis
* General stiffness
* Unwilingness to work
* Irratibaility
Diagnosis
Diagnosis in horses is difficult as blood tests detect antibodies to the ticks – not necessarily Lymes Disease itself. Because most horses are exposed to ticks this may give a false positive on the test. Usually the vet will take a history of the horse and run elimination tests to make a judgement as to whether the horse could have the disease.
Treatment
The first thing is to remove any ticks (this should be done when any tick is present to reduce the risk of Lymes). See section below for removal techniques. Treatment is then treated with antibiotics. During this treatment it is vital for the owner and vet to keep an eye out for laminitis as it is a known side affect.
Correct Tick Removal
How a tick is removed is extremely important. Incorrect removal can result in:
* The tick's mouth parts being left behind in the skin.
* Compression of the tick's abdomen.
* Puncture of the tick's body.
* Injury and stress to the tick.
These in turn can result in localised infection from foreign bodies and the introduction of infective organisms from the tick's stomach contents and saliva.
Leaving behind the tick's mouth parts can result in septic abscesses which, in severe cases, can lead to septicaemia.
Compressing the tick's abdomen can cause its stomach contents to be squeezed back into the blood stream of its host.
Puncturing the body of the tick can spill its stomach contents, which may contain infective organisms.
Causing injury or stress to the tick can result in it regurgitating the blood meal that it has ingested. This may contain infective organisms and result in the host contracting a serious infection/s.
Stress to the tick can result from applying solutions such as alcohol, aftershave, oils / butter, paraffin or petroleum jelly. It can also result from applying a freezing agent or burning the tick with a cigarette, lighter, or match head.
These methods might be successful in getting a tick to release its grip, but they can also significantly increase the chances of disease transmission.
There are only two safe ways to remove an attached tick:
* With Fine-tipped Tweezers
* With a Tick-removal Tool
The best way to avoid contracting a tick-borne disease is to avoid tick attachment in the first place. For simple preventative measures, see our Top Ten Tips, and to keep pets safe, see our Tick Prevention page.
Taken from the BADA-UK site
Websites (click on title for link)
Lymes Disease Association
Dartmoor Cam
Equine Rescue France
Equine Vet Clinic
Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness UK
Previous discussions (click on title for link)
Ticks
Critters
Dealing with Ticks
PLEASE ALSO SEE THE POST ON PIROPLASMOSIS IN THIS SECTION
Please post below any information you have on the subject of colic or of your experiences in diagnosis/treatment/aftercare. All information given is for reference only and does not constitute or should replace qualified veterinarian advice.
^ Net Pets