Tick-Borne Profile for dogs

The distribution area of ticks is continuously increasing due to global warming. Consequently, tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis, borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) occur more frequently in dogs as well.

Primary symptoms in canine borreliosis may include lethargy, inappetence and fever. Lameness caused by myositis or arthritis, enlargement of lymph nodes, neurological problems, kidney or heart damage can follow.

Canine anaplasmosis manifests for instance with a reduced general condition and fever, weight loss, oedema of the joints, anaemia, haemorrhagia, polyarthritis, but also CNS symptoms as a result of inflammation and bleeding in the meninges.

An infection with TBE virus in dogs is often characterised for instance by fever, apathy, weakness, reduced consciousness, lethargy, anorexia, ataxia, hyperalgesia and neurological disturbances.

Anaplasmosis, borreliosis and infections with TBE virus in dogs are often characterised by unspecific and very similar symptoms. Differential diagnostics should therefore include all three diseases. Coinfections may also occur.

Direct detection of Borrelia using PCR or cultivation is reliable only in tissue samples, but not in blood samples. For direct detection of A. phagocytophilum, staining of a blood smear, cultivation or PCR are available. The sensitivity of direct detection strongly depends on the phase of infection. Therefore, serological detection of antibodies is the method of choice for laboratory diagnosis of borreliosis and anaplasmosis. TBE virus can be detected directly by means of PCR (during the viraemic phase) or indirectly using ELISA.

• EUROLINE Tick-Borne Profile 1 Dog (IgG)