Ticks are nasty little critters and latest research says they can make us dogs and our humans very sick. So please take care when out walking.
Latest research from the University of Bristol shows that ticks infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease may be considerably more prevalent in
the UK than expected.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Transmitted by ticks, this is a debilitating chronic infection which affects a number of animals including humans and dogs.
Ticks are parasites which live on animals such as deer and sheep, they feed by sucking blood from their host and are often transferred from host to host in long grass and bracken rich areas.
Initially ticks are no bigger than a poppy seed and can be quite difficult to see, once they have sucked blood from their host, they can enlarge to become about the size of a pea. Ticks will gladly attach themselves to dogs and humans and whilst feeding, can transfer the Lyme Disease bacterium to the blood stream.
Clinical signs in humans include a characteristic circular red rash that spreads from the site of the tick bite, followed by a flu-like condition. In dogs, the symptoms can be much more vague and difficult to diagnose. If untreated, the disease progresses to neurological problems and arthritis; chronic forms of the disease can last for many years.
While only occasionally affecting humans, reported cases in the UK are thought to have increased more than fourfold since the beginning of the century – from 0.38 per 100,000 in 2000 to 1.79 per 100,000 in 2009. In 2010 there were 953 reported cases in England and Wales but the level of under-reporting is likely to be considerable.
To obtain a clearer picture of the prevalence of infected ticks, Faith Smith of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences and colleagues recruited vets across England, Scotland and Wales to examine dogs selected at random as they visited veterinary practices. Since pet dogs largely share the same environment and visit the same outdoor areas as their owners, exposure to infected ticks in dogs is likely to provide an index for corresponding risks to humans.
Of 3,534 dogs inspected between March and October 2009, 14.9 per cent had ticks. Of the samples that could be tested, 17 were positive for the Borrelia bacteria. Hence, 2.3 per cent of ticks were infected. Therefore, the prevalence of infected ticks on dogs is 0.5 per cent, or 481 infected ticks per 100,000 dogs. This suggests that the prevalence of Borrelia in the UK tick population is considerably higher than previously thought.
Avoiding ticks
Ticks will generally be found in long grass and bracken rich areas. Keep to footpaths and ensure legs are covered when walking through long grass.
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Further information
Bristol University Full article
More about Ticks – British Association of Shooting and Conservation