Summary of Vector-borne Disease Pathogens

Pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi

Spirochete that localizes in the tissue of an infected animal

Diagnosis
Borreliosis Lyme disease

Species
Dog, Cat

Vector
Ixodes spp. (deer tick or black-legged tick)

Clinical Signs
Acute/Chronic (dog): Fever, lameness, joint swelling, anorexia, polyarthritis, renal disease Subclinical (dog and cat): Asymptomatic

PCR Results
PCR is only recommended on ticks, synovial fluid/biopsy and skin Otherwise on dogs perform SNAP 4Dx Test or Lyme Quant C6 Test (see Additional Diagnostics)

Additional Diagnostics
Serology: SNAP 4Dx, Lyme Quant C6 Test C6 antibody in dogs is detectable early in infection; does not cross react with vaccine; declines rapidly after successful treatment Lyme Quant C6 Test is not available for cats Urinalysis/UPC: Proteinuria

Possible Coinfections
A. phagocytophilum Bartonella spp.

Treatment
Doxycycline Amoxicillin

Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Gram-negative bacterium that infects neutrophils

Granulocytic anaplasmosis

Dog, Cat

Ixodes spp. (deer tick or black-legged tick)

Acute: Fever, lethargy, anorexia, lameness, joint pain and swelling, neurologic signs Subclinical: Asymptomatic

Anaplasma spp. result positive or negative If positive at genus level, then species-specific result will follow Anaplasma spp. result positive or negative If positive at genus level, then species-specific result will follow

CBC: Thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, microscopic identification Serology: SNAP 4Dx, IFA CBC: Thrombocytopenia, microscopic identification Serology: SNAP 4Dx (cross-reacts with A. phagocytophilum spot), IFA CBC: Thrombocytopenia, anemia, pancytopenia, microscopic identification Chemistry: Hyperglobulinemia Urinalysis/UPC: Proteinuria Serology: SNAP 4Dx, IFA CBC: Mild thrombocytopenia, microscopic identification

B. burgdorferi Bartonella spp.

Doxycycline

Anaplasma platys
Gram-negative bacterium that infects platelets

Infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia

Dog

Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)

Acute: Mild fever, epistaxis, petechia, ecchymoses Subclinical: Asymptomatic

E. canis R. rickettsii Babesia spp. Canine hemotropic mycoplasma A. platys E. ewingii E. chaffeensis R. rickettsii Babesia spp. Canine hemotropic mycoplasma E. canis E. chaffeensis

Doxycycline

Ehrlichia canis
Gram-negative bacterium that infects monocytes

Monocytic ehrlichiosis

Dog, Cat

Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)

Acute: Fever, lethargy, uveitis, Ehrlichia spp. result positive epistaxis, petechia, CNS signs, or negative lymphadenomegaly If positive at genus level, then species-specific result will Chronic: Hemorrhagic follow disorders and multisystemic signs Subclinical: Asymptomatic Acute: Fever, lameness, joint swelling, neurologic signs, lethargy, anorexia Subclinical: Asymptomatic Ehrlichia spp. result positive or negative If positive at genus level, then species-specific result will follow Ehrlichia spp. result positive or negative If positive at genus level, then species-specific result will follow

Doxycycline

Ehrlichia ewingii
Gram-negative bacterium that infects neutrophils

Granulocytic ehrlichiosis

Dog

Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick)

Doxycycline

Ehrlichia chaffeensis
Gram-negative bacterium that infects monocytes

Monocytic ehrlichiosis

Dog

Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick)

Acute: Anterior uveitis, epistaxis, lymphadenomegaly Subclinical: Asymptomatic

CBC: Thrombocytopenia, microscopic identification Serology: SNAP 4Dx (crossreacts with E. canis spot)

E. canis E. ewingii

Doxycycline

Neorickettsia risticii
Gram-negative bacterium infecting monocytes

Potomac horse fever Monocytic ehrlichiosis Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Dog

May be transmitted by May be associated with vomiting, lethargy, fever or ingestion of infected snails polyarthropathy Dermacentor spp. Rhipicephalus sanguineus Acute: Fever, edema, reluctance to walk, petechia, ecchymoses, neurologic signs

Neorickettsia risticii spp. result CBC: Thrombocytopenia positive or negative Serology: IFA Rickettsia rickettsii positive or negative CBC: Leukocytosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia Serology: IFA A. platys E. canis Babesia spp. Canine hemotropic mycoplasma

Doxycycline

Rickettsia rickettsii
Gram-negative bacterium that infects endothelial cells

Dog

Doxycycline

Pathogen Babesia spp.

Protozoon that infect erythrocytes

Diagnosis
Babesiosis

Species
Dog

Vector
Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Clinical Signs

PCR Results

Additional Diagnostics
CBC: Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, microscopic identification Serology: IFA (B. canis, B. gibsoni)

Possible Coinfections
A. platys E. canis R. rickettsii Canine hemotropic mycoplasma

Treatment
B. canis: Imidocarb diproprionate B. gibsoni: Combination of atovaquone and azithromycin

Babesia spp. result positive or B. canis: Mild or subclinical; more severe in young animals; negative B. gibsoni transmitted common in greyhounds If positive at genus level, then through dog bites species-specific result will B. gibsoni: Acute, chronic follow or subclinical (pit bulls); fever, general weight loss and debilitation, organomegaly B. conradae: Fever, lethargy Dog: Rhipicephalus sanguineus Cat: Fleas, lice, ticks Dog: Clinical signs are rare unless splenectomized or immunocompromised Cat: Weakness, depression, tachypnea, anorexia, pale mucous membranes, dehydration, icterus, splenomegaly, with or without flea infestation

Hemotropic mycoplasmas
Mycoplasmas that infect erythrocytes

Hemotropic mycoplasmosis

Dog, Cat

Dog: M. haemocanis, CBC: Hemolytic anemia, Candidatus M. haematoparvum microscopic identification Cat: M. haemofelis is most pathogenic, Candidatus M. haemominutum is least pathogenic, Candidatus M. turicensis has intermediate pathogenicity Positive or negative result provided for each species Bartonella spp. result positive or negative Species-specific results not provided

Dog: A. platys E. canis R. rickettsii Babesia spp. Cat: Bartonella spp

Doxycycline Enrofloxacin May or may not include immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticoids

Bartonella spp.
Gram-negative bacteria that infect erythrocytes and endothelial cells

Bartonellosis

Dog, Cat

Ixodid ticks (hard ticks)

Dog: Granulomatous lymphadenitis, hepatic disease, endocarditis, polyarthritis Fleas Other vectors possible Pleural or abdominal effusions Cat: Variety of clinical manifestations including fever, lymphadenopathy, uveitis, gingivitis, neurological diseases Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast tick) H. americanum infection most common in U.S. and usually severe clinical signs or waxing and waning course: fever, cachexia, depression, muscle atrophy, hyperesthesia, purulent ocular discharge, stiffness, myalgia

B. burgdorferi CBC: B. vinsonii in dogs can A. phagocytophilum cause hemolytic anemia (frequently immune mediated), thrombocytopenia Serology: IFA

Azithromycin Treatment of healthy cats has not been shown to lessen the risk of cat scratch disease in humans

Hepatozoon spp.
Protozoon that infect leukocytes, hemolymphatic tissue, skeletal and cardiac muscle

Hepatozoonosis

Dog

Hepatozoon spp. result positive or negative If positive at genus level, then species-specific result will follow

CBC: Mild anemia, marked neutrophilia, microscopic identification Chemistry: Increased ALP , hypoglycemia, hypoalbuminemia Urinalysis/UPC: Proteinuria Muscle Biopsy: Myositis with cysts or meronts

B. burgdorferi A. phagocytophilum

Combination of trimethoprimsulfadiazine, clindamycin and pyrimethamine followed by daily decoquinate. Relapses, glomerulonephritis and renal amyloidosis occur

Leishmania spp.
Protozoon that infect tissue macrophages

Leishmaniasis

Dog

Lutzomyia spp. (sand flies)

Visceral leishmaniasis in U.S. and Canada in American foxhounds: chronic wasting with muscle atrophy, conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, retinitis, facial alopecia, lymphadenopathy, polyarthritis

Leishmania spp. result positive CBC: Anemia, or negative thrombocytopenia, lymphocytosis Species-specific results not provided Chemistry: Hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, azotemia Urinalysis/UPC: Proteinuria

Ehrlichia spp. Babesia spp.

Allopurinol, amphotericin B, meglumine antimoniate (not available in U.S.), sodium stibogluconate No treatment protocol rids infection; relapses common

Cytauxzoon felis
Protozoa that infects erythrocytes

Cytauxzoonosis

Cat

Dermacentor variabilis Amblyomma americanum possible

Depression, anorexia, fever, jaundice Most cats die within 7 days from onset of clinical signs

Cytauxzoon felis result positive or negative

CBC: Severe hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, microscopic identification Chemistry: Evidence of multiorgan failure

Primarily supportive: intravenous fluids, antibiotics and heparin Use of antiprotozoal drugs is controversial

Greene CE, ed. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO. Elsevier Inc.; 2006.

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