lyme disease

what is the scientific name for lyme disease?

borrelia burgdoferi

erythema migrans

spread of redness/rash

what is the primary victory of lyme disease?

ixodes scapularies

what is ixodes scapularies?

a species of deer tick

what is the bacterium of lyme disease?

lyme spirochete

when was lyme disease rediscovered?

1975

define dead-end host

can carry the bacterium, but do not generally get sick themselves

how do ticks get the bacterium?

feeding on a mammal

symptoms for lyme disease include…

lethargy, fever, arthritis

humans show…

bullseye rash

what are the most broad tests that are available for dogs?

snap 4 dx, pcr (polymerase chain reaction), quantitative lyme c6

define snap 4 dx

an reliable, in-house test to detect markers in 8 minutes

recommended annually & 4-6 weeks after tick exposure to screen for lyme disease

if test is positive for lyme, it indicates that antibodies are present but does not specify the degree of infection

define pcr (polymerase chain reaction)

uses genetic material to determine presence of infectious bacteria themselves

requires specialized testing & equipment

turnaround time is 24-48 hours

define quantitative lyme c6

value for the “level” of infection

gives a number for the severity of infection (>10 = no need for treatment)

what are the tests available for humans?

elisa (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), western blot test

define elisa (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)

highly sensitive, low specificity (can produce false positives)

detects antibodies against b. burgodorferi

define western blot test

used to confirm positives

highly specific, low sensitivity

tests for a specific protein band on the antibodies for lyme

if elisa test shows a positive result…

ensure with the western blot test

preventatives

tick checks

keep areas pest free

use treatments

vaccinate dogs & horses