Piccione J, Levine G J, Duff C A, Kuhlman G M, Scott K D, Esteve-Gassent M D
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
J Vet Intern Med. 2016 Jul;30(4):1222-8. doi: 10.1111/jvim.14363. Epub 2016 Jun 28.
In the United States, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) in dogs is caused by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia turicatae and Borrelia hermsii, transmitted by Ornithodoros spp. ticks. The hallmark diagnostic feature of this infection is the visualization of numerous spirochetes during standard blood smear examination. Although the course of spirochetemia has not been fully characterized in dogs, in humans infected with TBRF the episodes of spirochetemia and fever are intermittent.
To describe TBRF in dogs by providing additional case reports and reviewing the disease in veterinary and human medicine.
Five cases of privately-owned dogs naturally infected with TBRF in Texas are reviewed.
Case series and literature review.
All dogs were examined because of lethargy, inappetence, and pyrexia. Two dogs also had signs of neurologic disease. All dogs had thrombocytopenia and spirochetemia. All cases were administered tetracyclines orally. Platelet numbers improved and spirochetemia and pyrexia resolved in 4 out of 5 dogs, where follow-up information was available.
TBRF is likely underdiagnosed in veterinary medicine. In areas endemic to Ornithodoros spp. ticks, TBRF should be considered in dogs with thrombocytopenia. Examination of standard blood smears can provide a rapid and specific diagnosis of TBRF when spirochetes are observed.
在美国，犬类蜱传回归热（TBRF）由疏螺旋体菌土拉疏螺旋体和赫氏疏螺旋体引起，通过钝缘蜱属蜱传播。这种感染的标志性诊断特征是在标准血液涂片检查中可见大量螺旋体。虽然犬类螺旋体血症的病程尚未完全明确，但在感染TBRF的人类中，螺旋体血症和发热发作是间歇性的。
通过提供更多病例报告并回顾兽医和人类医学中的该疾病，来描述犬类的TBRF。
回顾了得克萨斯州5例自然感染TBRF的私人饲养犬病例。
病例系列研究和文献综述。
所有犬均因嗜睡、食欲不振和发热接受检查。2只犬还有神经疾病体征。所有犬均有血小板减少和螺旋体血症。所有病例均口服四环素治疗。在有随访信息的5只犬中，4只犬的血小板数量增加，螺旋体血症和发热症状消失。
TBRF在兽医学中可能未得到充分诊断。在钝缘蜱属蜱的流行地区，血小板减少的犬应考虑TBRF。当观察到螺旋体时，标准血液涂片检查可对TBRF做出快速而特异性的诊断。
