Cologne. Ticks can be used with various pathogens (Individuals, viruses, bacteria) be infected and transferred them to dogs and cats during the suction fact. The consequences for the four -legged friends are sometimes life -threatening symptoms. However, the term “travel sickness” is misleading, since some of the ticks and illnesses not only occur in warm holiday areas, but also increasingly also occur in Germany and neighboring countries.
Infections caused by unicellular organisms (Protozoen)
Shield tick (Ixodidae) Including in Germany mainly the Wiesenzecken (Dermacentor Reticulatus) can (e.g. Babesia Canis) Transfer, the red blood cells (Erythrocytes) affected. Infected dogs mostly develop acutely and show, depending on the stage of the disease, fide, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, yellowing of the mucous membranes (Ikterus) And bleeding into the skin or mucous membrane and bloody urine. Untreated, the disease often ends fatally. However, the disease can generally be successfully treated by drug treatment. It is important to start the treatment as quickly as possible after the illness begins. As soon as the animal is ill, intensive, symptomatic therapy in veterinary practice or clinic is usually necessary.
Babesiosis cases have been increasing in Germany for a few years. To prevent the disease, tick prophylaxis is the safest measure. No approved vaccine is available in Germany, but there is a vaccine in some European countries. However, this can reduce the severity of the disease, but does not offer safe protection against infection. From a current technical point of view, vaccination is therefore only recommended as a supplementary measure in regions with a high risk of babesia infection.
The Hepatozoonose (Hepatozoon Canis) Is by infected brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) Translate when the animal swallows it. The pathogen does not currently occur in Germany, but infection is possible when traveling to southern European countries, Asia and Africa. Symptoms are recurring fever, loss of appetite, swelling of the lymph nodes, emaciation and lameness. Treatment is lengthy and not always an excitation freedom.
Infections caused by viruses
Dogs can also be with early summer meningoencephalitis virus (TBE – V) be infected. Ticks transmit the virus in the suction fact. Affected animals do not always show symptoms. Perhaps fever, increased painfulness, changes in behavior, uncertain gait and coordination disorders up to seizures. Treatment is only symptomatic. Prevention through effective tick prophylaxis is therefore advisable.
Infections caused by bacteria
Anaplasms (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) In dogs and cats, the common wooden goat (Ixodes ricinus) transmitted. The canine granulocytic anaplasmosis is widespread in Germany. The brown dog tick (R. sanguineus) transfers the pathogen of the canines of cyclical thrombocytopenia (Anaplasma platys). This often occurs in the Mediterranean space. The result of the blood disease is a lack of plates (Platelet) And thereby a disorder of blood clotting. Symptoms of anaplasmosis are bleeding into the skin, fatigue, weakness, fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. The treatment is also lengthy here, and the pathogen cannot always be completely eliminated.
The (Canine monocytar) Ehrlichiosis is a disease found in southern Europe. The trigger is the Ehrlichia Canis bacterium, which affects the white blood cells. The brown dog tick (R. sanguineus) transmits the pathogen. Depending on the stage, symptoms such as mattness, bleeding in the skin and urine, eye changes, swelling of the lymph node, fever to shortness of breath, blindness and lameness occur. The bacteria remain in organs, such as the liver, spleen and lymph nodes, so that long therapy is necessary. Again and again there is a simultaneous infection with babesia. Ehrlichiosis can also be prevented by tick prophylaxis.
The borreliosis (Caused by Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Latu) Is by shield tick (Ixodes ricinus) transmitted. This type of tick is widespread throughout Europe and sometimes active all year round. After an infection, it sometimes takes several weeks for the first symptoms to occur. Occasionally there is a reddening of the skin at the postal point of the tick. Not all animals show clinical symptoms, but a large part of the animals concerned has increased antibody tits. The pathogen extends into cartilage tissue, tissue cysts or connective tissue cells (Fibroblasts) back. This enables clinical symptoms to be an outbreak even after a long time, for example in the event of stress. Signs of a disease are fever, loss of appetite, swelling of the joints, swelling of the lymph node and possible recurring lameness. Borreliosis can be treated with antibiotics, whereby repeated treatment may be necessary. A borreliosis vaccination for dogs can reduce the pathogen load. Here, too, tick prophylaxis is important to prevent Borrelia infection.
Since some of the pathogens listed above are only transferred after a certain period of attachment of the tick, the ticks should be removed as soon as possible.