Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lyme disease in companion animals: an updated state-of-art and current situation in Portugal.
- Journal:
- Veterinary research communications
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Picado, Rita et al.
- Affiliation:
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Plain-English summary
Lyme disease is an illness caused by bacteria that are spread through tick bites, and it can affect both pets and people. In Portugal, there hasn't been much research on Lyme disease in pets, which might mean that its occurrence is not fully recognized. Pets with Lyme disease may not show clear symptoms or might have vague signs that make it hard to diagnose. If your pet has been around ticks and shows signs of illness, your veterinarian might consider Lyme disease and can confirm it with specific tests. Treatment usually involves antibiotics and other medications to help manage symptoms, and preventing Lyme disease mainly focuses on controlling ticks.
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is a globally distributed zoonotic multisystemic condition caused by gram-negative spirochete bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi complex, transmitted through tick bites. Research on LD in domestic animals in Portugal is limited, potentially leading to underestimating its prevalence. This disease affects many species, including humans, making it a critical public health issue. In domestic animals, LD often presents subclinically or with non-specific clinical signs, complicating its diagnosis. Nevertheless, veterinarians should always consider LD in cases with a history of tick exposure and compatible clinical signs. Diagnostic confirmation can be achieved through serological and other complementary tests. Treatment involves eradicating the bacterial infection and managing clinical signs using a combination of antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and other medications. Effective prevention primarily relies on tick control measures. This review aims to provide an up-to-date state-of-the-art LD, particularly in Portugal.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39259416/