dvm - January 2013 - (Page 10) NEWS | Medical update Tweet topic Have you seen a higher positivity rate for Ehrlichia species? Tell us on Twitter @dvm360. Risk of Ehrlichia species exposure on the rise Improved detection confirms significant threat from lone star tick, supports need for year-round tick control in dogs and cats. DEXX Laboratories recently reported that dogs in the south central and eastern regions of the country are being exposed to a greater number of ticks and tick-borne diseases than once thought, according to a company-issued press release. Researchers with IDEXX compared reference laboratory results conducted in 2011 with current results from one of its SNAP diagnostic tests—also run at the reference laboratory—and found that there was up to a fourfold increase in Ehrlichia species exposure this year. But is this the result of improved laboratory tests and better detection, or is the nation’s tick population growing and branching out into unchartered territory? It’s true that the company’s SNAP 4Dx Plus test, which screens for a number of common tick-borne pathogens, was recently upgraded to include antibody detection for Ehrlichia ewingii, but that’s only part of the story, says Susan Little, DVM, PhD, DEVPC, professor of veterinary parasitology at Oklahoma State University. “Tat test has a wider platform and is detecting an agent that we didn’t previously have serologic assays to detect,” she says. “But the vector tick that transmits Ehrlichia ewingii, the most common Ehrlichia species infecting dogs in the U.S., now has a broader geographic distribution, too.” Ehrlichia ewingii is transmitted by the lone I Ehrlichia disease trends IDEXX Reference Laboratories location Baltimore, Md. Greensboro, N.C. Tampa, Fla. Totowa, N.J. Dallas, Texas Memphis, Tenn. St. Louis, Mo. April to June 2011 April to June 2012 1.4 5.6 5.1 8.3 0.56 1.5 0.45 1.0 0.40 0.75 1.3 2.5 7.7 Source: IDEXX Laboratories No data available % Ehrlichia species positivity rate star tick, and dogs in the southern part of the U.S. have always been at risk for this type of Ehrlichiosis, due to the tick’s overwhelming presence in that region. But even that indigenous tick population is growing, says Little, and now the lone star tick is migrating north into much of the eastern twothirds of the country. “While many veterinarians in highly endemic areas are familiar with acute E. ewingii infections, we don’t know a lot about this pathogen because testing for it has been limited until now,” says Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, manager of medical affairs at IDEXX. “IDEXX is excited to be able to help veterinarians screen for a pathogen that is becoming a larger threat in more parts of the country.” In order to keep that threat to a minimum, Little suggests that veterinarians follow the Companion Animal Parasite Council’s recommendations and urge clients to practice year-round tick control and prevention. “We need to be more adamant with clients,” Little says. For more information about tick control and prevention, visit capcvet.org. GETTY IMAGES 10 | January 2013 | dvm360 http://www.capcvet.org Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of dvm - January 2013 dvm - January 2013 Contents Where did I go wrong? Associations Medical update Stethoscope Pets and Vets CATalyst survey examines how veterinarians really feel about animal shelters and pet rescue organizations. Education What’s new? What’s now? Veterinary headlines Employee steals more than $400,000 from clinic Longtime veterinarian killed in plane crash in California Canadian SPCA concerned by number of “home neutering” reports Arrest made in Minnesota veterinary hospital arson Washington DVM accused of abusing patients, medications When faced with disaster, practices need a plan MEDICINE360 EQUINE360 Diagnotes University of Minnesota celebrates 750,000th urolith Feedback Commentary Associate perspective Death to debt Practice survival Market watch The dilemma Letter of the law Calendar Stampede dvm - January 2013 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm360_201303 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm360_201302 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201301 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201212 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201211 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201210 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201209 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201208 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201207 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201206 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201205 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201204 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201203 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201202 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201201 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201112 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201111 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201110 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201109 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201108 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201107 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201106 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201105 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201104 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201103 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201102 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201101 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201012 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201011 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201010 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201009 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201008 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201007 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201006 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201005 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201004 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201003 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201002 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_201001 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200912 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200911 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200910 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200909 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200908 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200907 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200906 http://digital.dvm360.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200905 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200904 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200903 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200902 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/dvm_200901 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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