Spirochetemia caused by Borrelia turicatae infection in 3 dogs in Texas.
Spirochetemia was diagnosed in 2 Siberian Huskies and a Rottweiler from the northwestern region of Texas between June 1999 and October 2001. Clinical findings were nonspecific; tick exposure was documented in 2 of the dogs. Hematologic abnormalities included anemia (n=2), neutrophilia (n=2, including 1 with a left shift), lymphopenia (n=3), eosinopenia (n=3), and thrombocytopenia (n=2). One anemic dog had a positive Coombs' test. In 1 dog, Western blot analysis of serum yielded multiple positive bands with B turicatae lysate, indicating the spirochetemia most likely was due to B turicatae infection. In 2 dogs, spirochetes were cultured from the blood and identified using DNA analysis as Borrelia turicatae; 1 of these dogs also was seropositive for Ehrlichia canis and B burgdorferi. In 2 cases, spirochetemia was more prominent in blood smears prepared immediately after sample collection than in smears prepared from EDTA blood. Two dogs recovered with doxycycline treatment; 1 dog declined clinically despite treatment and was euthanized. B turicatae is the agent of tick-borne (endemic) relapsing fever in humans and is distinct from B burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease; however, serologic cross-reactivity may occur. B turicatae is transmitted by the soft tick, Ornithodoros turicata, and infection should be considered in dogs with spirochetemia and possible exposure to the tick vector.
Whitney
Marlyn S
MS
Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Amarillo, TX, USA. whitneym@missouri.edu
Schwan
Tom G
TG
Sultemeier
Katherine B
KB
McDonald
Polly S
PS
Brillhart
Martin N
MN
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001898:Borrelia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013781:Texas
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline