A recent study has highlighted a concerning trend in shelter dogs, showing that more than one in five of these animals are infected with heartworms or tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease.
This research sheds light on the expanding geographic range of ticks and mosquitoes carrying these diseases, posing a health risk to both pets and humans.
While medications can prevent these diseases, many neglected or stray animals brought to shelters lack access to preventive care, making them vulnerable to these infections.
The Study’s Findings
The study involved analyzing blood samples from 3,750 dogs in animal shelters across 19 states in the Eastern United States.
The research aimed to determine the prevalence of heartworm and three tick-borne bacteria. The results revealed:
Heartworm Infections: Over one in ten dogs were infected with heartworms, a potentially severe condition that can damage the heart, lungs, and arteries if left untreated.
Lyme Disease Exposure: More than 8% of the dogs had been exposed to the bacteria responsible for causing Lyme disease, which can lead to symptoms such as loss of appetite, fatigue, and lameness.
Tick-Borne Bacterial Infections: An additional 10% of the dogs were infected with bacteria causing anaplasmosis or ehrlichiosis, lesser-known diseases contracted from ticks.
Multiple Infections: Nearly 5% of the dogs had multiple infections, indicating that many had been exposed to more than one disease-causing agent.
The Importance of Preventative Medications
While these diseases are preventable with medications, access to veterinary care can be a challenge for neglected or stray animals.
Preventative medications can be expensive, but the study underscores their importance in safeguarding pets’ health.
Lead author Corinna Hazelrig emphasizes that regular use of these preventatives is crucial, especially considering the prevalence of these pathogens in the Eastern United States.
The Threat to Humans
Tick and mosquito-borne diseases not only affect pets but also pose a significant health risk to humans. Heartworms are not a significant concern for people, but diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis require antibiotics to clear the infection.
Lyme disease, in particular, is the most common vector-borne disease in the US, with potentially severe symptoms, including fever, rash, and joint and muscle aches.
Climate change is contributing to the expansion of ticks and mosquitoes carrying these diseases into new geographic areas. The study’s findings challenge the misconception that certain regions are immune to specific diseases.
For example, heartworm was detected in Maine, and exposure to the Lyme disease agent was found in Virginia. The changing climate is facilitating the spread of these disease vectors.
The presence of disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes concerns not only pet owners but also the general public. Lyme disease alone affects thousands of people annually in the US, with the actual number likely higher than reported cases.
Studies have shown that areas with a high incidence of these diseases in dogs also have a greater risk of human infections. Dogs serve as sentinels, providing insights into the distribution and changing patterns of these pathogens.
Collaboration with Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC)
The study collaborated with the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), which provides prevalence maps for various pathogens in domestic dogs and cats.
These maps, available online, offer a valuable resource for veterinarians, physicians, pet owners, and travelers to assess the risk of exposure to these diseases across the United States and Canada.
With monthly updates and data collected from around a million tests monthly, these maps help monitor disease prevalence and inform public health efforts.
Conclusion
The study’s findings underscore the importance of preventive care for pets, especially in regions where tick and mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent.
These diseases not only pose a risk to pets but also to humans, making awareness and prevention critical.
As the geographic range of disease vectors continues to expand due to climate change, vigilance and early intervention become increasingly vital in safeguarding both pet and human health.
The research findings can be found in the journal Parasite and Vectors.
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