Perfect Timing: protecting dogs from tick-borne infections
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Veterinarians & Veterinary Technicians
Overview:
This presentation reviews current data on time to transmission of tick-borne infections in dogs. Feeding by common hard ticks is complex, and each tick requires several days to complete the feeding process. Once an attachment site is selected and established, physiologic changes in the tick occur that both facilitate acquisition of a blood meal and initiate maturation and replication of pathogens. When tick feeding is allowed to continue normally, pathogen transmission may follow hours to days after initial tick attachment. We will review current understanding of the mechanism of transmission for different tick-borne pathogens of dogs, including Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp, Rickettsia spp., and Babesia spp., and discuss studies designed to determine minimum transmission times. We will also go over testing strategies for canine tick-borne infections and outline next steps when dogs test positive. Join us to learn more about protecting dogs from ticks and tick-borne diseases.
Learning Objectives:
- Review tick feeding process with a focus on key aspects that contribute to transmission of tick-borne infections.
- Discuss minimum and average time to transmission for different tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp, and Babesia spp.
- Appraise current assays available to diagnose tick-borne infections in dogs and explain recommended follow-up testing and treatment.
- Review strategies to protect dogs from tick-borne diseases.
Susan E. Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)
Dr. Susan Little is a veterinary parasitology educator, researcher, and scholar who is recognized internationally as a leader in parasitology with particular expertise in zoonotic parasites, arthropods, and vector-borne infections. After earning a BS from Cornell University, a DVM from Virginia Tech, and a PhD in veterinary parasitology from the University of Georgia, she served for three decades in academia, teaching parasitology to veterinary and graduate students at the University of Georgia and Oklahoma State University. Dr. Little has authored more than 150 publications on veterinary and human parasites and tick-borne disease agents and is board certified in veterinary parasitology through the American College of Veterinary Microbiology. She co-founded the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology, is a past-president of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists, and an Emeritus Member and past-president of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC). Susan is also an outstanding teacher and lecturer who has received two Excellence in Teaching Awards from the national Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) and in 2017 was named Distinguished Veterinary Parasitologist by the AAVP.
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
This activity is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.
