Tick toxicosis in a dog bitten by Ornithodoros brasiliensis.

Abstract

Ticks are hematophagous parasites of people and animals and are a public health hazard in several countries. They are vectors of infectious diseases; in addition, the bite of some ticks, mainly from the Ornithodoros genus, may lead to local lesions and systemic illness, referred to as tick toxicosis. In this report, we describe a dog bitten by Ornithodoros brasiliensis, popularly known as the mouro tick. The main clinical findings were disseminated skin rash, pruritus, mucosal hyperemia, lethargy, and fever. Laboratory abnormalities 48 hours after the bites occurred included mild nonregenerative anemia, eosinophilia, basophilia, increased serum creatine kinase activity, increased serum C-reactive protein concentration, and prolonged coagulation times. Tick-borne pathogens were not detected by PCR analysis or serologic testing, supporting the diagnosis of a noninfectious syndrome due to tick bite, compatible with tick toxicosis.

• Authors: José Reck, João Fábio Soares, Carlos Termignoni, Marcelo B Labruna, João Ricardo Martins
• Journal: Veterinary clinical pathology (Vet Clin Pathol) Vol. 40 Issue 3 Pg. 356-60 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1939-165X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21827517 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: ©2011 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

Chemical References

• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Animals
• Arachnid Vectors (classification, physiology)
• Bites and Stings (complications, veterinary)
• Brazil
• C-Reactive Protein (metabolism)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Dog Diseases (diagnosis, parasitology)
• Dogs
• Exanthema (parasitology, veterinary)
• Fever (parasitology, veterinary)
• Hyperemia (parasitology, veterinary)
• Lethargy (parasitology, veterinary)
• Male
• Ornithodoros (classification, physiology)
• Pruritus (parasitology, veterinary)
• Tick Infestations (complications, parasitology, veterinary)
• Tick Toxicoses (diagnosis, parasitology, veterinary)