Spotted fever: pets can have the disease; know how to protect – 06/16/2023 – Balance

In recent days, at least four people in the state of São Paulo have died from Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The disease is transmitted through contaminated ticks, including Amblyomma aureolatum, which can be found in dogs. Protecting the pet also guarantees the protection of guardians against the disease. Experts point out that residents of rural areas should be especially attentive to the appearance of the tick in dogs. Those who live in urban spaces with wild animals and nearby woods as well.

Other species responsible for transmitting the disease in Brazil are the star tick (Amblyomma cajennense) and the dubitatum (Amblyomma cooperi). In the interior of São Paulo, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is associated with the star tick that usually stays in areas of wild forest and riversides.

In general, adult men are more affected because they work in these regions. Nymphs (immature forms of the tick) are the main evolutionary stages involved in transmission and predominate in the colder months.

Only ticks infected by the bacteria are capable of transmission. As the tick is a parasite of wild and domestic animals, the problem can occur both in rural and urban areas, in addition to spreading as the species without the bacteria bites infected animals.

Take care of your pet to avoid dog tick bites.

How to protect?

Anyone visiting forested areas, such as ranches or country houses, should pay attention. Marcos Vinícius da Silva, infectologist and director of the Tropical Disease Outpatient Clinic at Hospital Emílio Ribas, said in an interview with Sheet that animals can carry the tick on family trips, which would facilitate transmission.

The recommendation is to avoid taking pets to outdoor activities that may be susceptible to the presence of the tick, such as trails and horseback riding.

According to Professor Mirela Costa, professor at the Department of Veterinary Clinic and Surgery at Unesp (São Paulo State University), dogs and cats are susceptible to tick contamination, but it is more common in dogs.

“It is more common for the tick to be found on capybaras, but other animals and humans can be bitten when they are in these environments”, says Costa, who warns of the risk of places with large populations of this species.

According to the veterinarian, domestic animals do not transmit the disease to humans, as the infection will always be from the tick. When stung, pets can be at risk of life due to spotted fever.

“The best way to protect the animals is by using repellents orally”, indicates Costa.

The expert says that oral administration compounds, available in petshops and veterinary clinics, are the ones that protect the most, as they are effective for weeks or even months. They act in the animal’s organism, with substances that prevent the tick from nesting in the skin, even if there is contact.

Other options are repellent sprays, but Castro points out that the effectiveness of these products is only immediate. In that case, they should be applied before the exposure activity, but they have more limited effectiveness.

When to worry?

When infected by the bacteria that transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, dogs and cats also show symptoms similar to those of humans.

According to Castro, clinical signs generally appear 2 to 4 days after contact with the tick. In some cases, it can take up to 14 days.

The main manifestations are myalgia (inflammation and pain of the muscles), fever, malaise and red spots on the skin. The reddish spots, however, can be difficult to see because they are under the hair.

“Human beings complain [dos sintomas], but in the case of the animal, we need to observe”, says Castro. “You realize that the animal is in a bad state because it stops eating, stays still, avoids locomotion. Walking becomes stiff and movement of the limbs and head is compromised.”

In this case, the recommendation is to take the animal to the veterinarian and report the activities that have been done in the last few days, so that the professional can identify that it is Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Castro says that tick-borne illnesses have been common in animals for years, so there is treatment available. “They usually last from 20 to 30 days at least and, depending on the stage of the disease in which the animal is taken to the veterinarian, it is at risk of life.”