animal consensus statement on Lyme disease in dogs:

georgia · medicine forum Guru Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 505

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16594606&query_hl=9&itool=pubmed_docsum

J Vet Intern Med. 2006 Mar-Apr;20(2):422-34.

ACVIM small animal consensus statement on Lyme disease in dogs:
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Littman MP, Goldstein RE, Labato MA, Lappin MR, Moore GE.

Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania

School of Veterinary Medicine, 19104-6010, USA. merylitt@vet.upenn.edu

The purpose of this report is to offer a consensus opinion of ACVIM
diplomates on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Borrelia
burgdorferi infections in dogs (canine Lyme disease). Clinical
syndromes
known to commonly be associated with canine Lyme disease include
polyarthritis and glomerulopathy. Serological test results can be used
to document exposure to B. burgdorferi but not prove illness. Although
serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay/indirect fluorescent antibody
assay titers can stay positive for months to years after treatment,
quantitative C6 peptide antibody paired tests need more study.
Serological screening of healthy dogs is controversial because it can
lead to overdiagnosis or overtreatment of normal dogs, most of which
never develop Lyme disease. However, serological screening can provide
seroprevalence and sentinel data and stimulate owner education about
tick infections and control. Although it is unknown whether treatment
of
seropositive healthy dogs is beneficial, the consensus is that
seropositive dogs should be evaluated for proteinuria and other
coinfections and tick control prescribed. Tick control can include a
product that repels or protects against tick attachment, thereby
helping
to prevent transmission of coinfections as well as Borrelia spp.
Seropositive dogs with clinical abnormalities thought to arise from
Lyme
disease generally are treated with doxycycline (10 mg/kg q24h for 1
month). Proteinuric dogs might need longer treatment as well as
medications and diets for protein-losing nephropathy. The ACVIM
diplomates believe the use of Lyme vaccines still is controversial and
most do not administer them. It is the consensus opinion that
additional
research is needed to study predictors of illness, "Lyme nephropathy,"
and coinfections in Lyme endemic areas.

PMID: 16594606 [PubMed - in process]

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