Tick prevention at a crossroad: new and renewed solutions

Ticks have major economic impact through diseases they transmit, direct losses due to their detrimental effect and the efforts invested in prevention measures directed against them. Chemical acaricides represent the main line of anti-tick defense in both humans and domestic animals, but increasing concerns regarding development of acaricide resistance, especially in the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, and environmental safety issues indicate the need for other, less aggressive but equally efficient methods. This paper aims to evaluate the potential, the scientific and economical limitations and future research directions regarding different alternative methods of tick control and their use in integrated pest management, with a separate reference to the pet industry. New research data in each field is presented and the economical aspects for each approach are individually emphasized.     

Tick Bite Prophylaxis: Results From a 2012 Survey of Healthcare Providers

In a recent national survey, over 30% of healthcare providers (HCPs) reported prescribing tick bite prophylaxis in the previous year. To clarify provider practices, we surveyed HCPs to determine how frequently and for what reasons they prescribed tick bite prophylaxis. We included four questions regarding tick bite prophylaxis in the DocStyles 2012 survey, a computer‐administered questionnaire of 2205 US primary care physicians, paediatricians and nurse practitioners. Responses in 14 states with high Lyme disease incidence (high LDI) were compared with responses from other states (low LDI). Overall, 56.4% of 1485 providers reported prescribing tick bite prophylaxis at least once in the previous year, including 73.9% of HCPs in high LDI and 48.2% in low LDI states. The reasons given were ‘to prevent Lyme disease’ (76.9%), ‘patients request it’ (40.4%) and ‘to prevent other tickborne diseases’ (29.4%). Among HCPs who provided prophylaxis, 45.2% did so despite feeling that it was not indicated. Given a hypothetical scenario involving a patient with an attached tick, 38.1% of HCPs from high LDI states and 15.1% from low LDI states would prescribe a single dose of doxycycline; 19.0% from high LDI states and 27.5% from low LDI states would prescribe a full course of doxycycline. HCPs prescribe tick bite prophylaxis frequently in areas where Lyme disease is rare and for tickborne diseases for which it has not been shown effective. HCPs may be unaware of current tick bite prophylaxis guidelines or find them difficult to implement. More information is needed regarding the efficacy of tick bite prophylaxis for diseases other than Lyme disease.     

Retention of surgery specialists in academia: a critical agenda

Recruitment and retention of specialists to academia appears to be a growing problem in university teaching hospitals. Members of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) believe that the movement of surgery specialists to practice may have an impact on the training of veterinary students and surgery residents. To address these concerns, 1,071 ACVS diplomates and 60 department heads and hospital directors from all veterinary schools in North America were surveyed to determine whether a problem exists, the extent of the problem, and potential reasons for migration of specialists to practice. Responses were obtained from 620 ACVS diplomates (58 per cent) and 38 department heads and hospital directors (63%) from 28 different universities. The responses confirmed a net movement of surgery specialists from academia to practice. Eighty seven percent of department heads and hospital directors believed there was a shortage of small animal surgery specialists in academia; this information was supported by the fact that 47% responded that they had open positions and 68% had difficulty filling positions in the last five years. The demand was slightly less for large animal surgery specialists, and 42 per cent of respondents indicated that they had open positions. Financial considerations were the most common reason for surgery specialists to move from academia to private practice. Seventy-six percent of responding ACVS diplomates in private practice had a total compensation package valued at greater than $125,000 per year, whereas 77.8% of diplomates in academia had total compensation valued at $125,000 or less. Most universities offer starting salaries (not including benefits) for recently certified surgery specialists ranging from $70,000 to $90,000. Reasons for moving from academia to practice besides financial considerations included undesirable location of university hospitals; lack of interest in research; and a belief that university administration was not supportive of surgery specialists. Many academic surgery specialists were frustrated by the requirement for productivity in research, teaching, and service for promotion in tenure-track positions.     

Tick toxicosis in a dog bitten by Ornithodoros brasiliensis

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.     

蜱对宿主免疫调节作用的研究进展

蜱作为人与动物疾病的第二大传播媒介,已受到人们的广泛关注。目前,人们正致力于免疫接种来控制蜱及蜱传疾病,但蜱对宿主产生了一系列的免疫调节作用,为抗蜱免疫接种的实施增加了难度。文章就蜱对宿主的免疫调节方式,减弱淋巴细胞增殖反应,扰乱细胞因子的产生和分泌;阻碍宿主B细胞的增殖与抗体产生;抑制补体旁路的激活;破坏NK细胞的杀伤功能;抑制巨噬细胞引起的炎性反应等方面进行了概述。对目前已发现的一些免疫调节蛋白如IgG结合蛋白(IGBPs)、唾液腺抗补体蛋白(Isac)、IL 2 结合蛋白(IL 2BP)、免疫抑制剂(Iris)等研究状况进行了综述,为抗原的进一步筛选和优化提供参考。     

Tick survey on goats and sheep in Kenya

Summary A tick survey was done on sheep and goats in Siaya and Kakamega Districts, Kenya between October 1980 and October 1981. Most of the animals were found to carry one to 10 ticks with no significant difference between sheep and goats. The most abundant species wasR. appendiculatus followed byR. evertsi. There were more male than female ticks found on the animals. Thirty per cent of the farms visited practised the hand picking method of tick control while 14% regularly dipped their animals.

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Resumen Se hizo reconocimiento de las garrapatas de ovejas y cabras, en los distritos de Siaya y Kakamega en Kenia, entre octubre 1980 y octubre 1981. La mayoria de animales se encontraron infestados con 1 hasta 10 garrapatas, sin diferencias significativas entre ovejas y cabras. La especie más abundante fueR. appendiculatus, seguida deR. evertsi. Hubo más garrapatas machos que hembras en los animales examinados. En el 30% de las granjas visitadas controlaban las garrapatas a mano, mientras que en el 14% tenian ba?os de inmersión.

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Résumé Une enquête sur les tiques des moutons et des chèvres a été réalisée dans les districts de Siaya et de Kakamega au Kenya d'octobre 1980 à octobre 1981. La plupart des animaux étaient porteurs d'1 à 10 tiques sans différence significative entre les moutons et les chèvres. L'espèce la plus abondante étaitR. appendiculatus suivie deR. evertsi. On a trouvé plus de tiques male que de tiques femelles sur les animaux. 30 p. 100 des fermes visitées pratiquaient le détiquage manuel alors que 14 p. 100 utilisaient régulièrement les bains détiqueurs.

     

Injectable eprinomectin for cattle: Tick efficacy and pharmacokinetics

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile and efficacy of eprinomectin (EPM) against Rhipicephalus microplus in cattle of a new injectable form of EPM (Voss Performa®). The product was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 200 μg EPM/kg, in a single dose. The efficacy of EPM against R. microplus in cattle was evaluated through field and stall tests. Studies were performed to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters of EPM with the purpose of better understanding the kinetics of the formulation. The formulation was effective in controlling R. microplus in both naturally and artificially infested cattle, providing efficacy greater than 95%. The results of pharmacokinetic study were C_max of 47.15 ± 22.20 ng/ml, T_max of 1.33 ± 0.492 days, T_1/2 of 2.96 ± 1.212 days, AUC_0–t of 228.08 ± 57.30 ng day ml⁻¹, and AUC_0-∞ of 240.50 ± 58.44 ng day ml⁻¹. Therefore, the new injectable EPM formulation becomes an important alternative for the control of cattle tick in Brazil.     

霉菌毒素全球流行情况及其预防措施专栏(二)有关全球霉菌毒素中毒症的最新思考

霉菌毒素是霉菌的次生代谢物,其普遍存在于自然界中.全球范围内共有4种会产生霉菌毒素的霉菌属,包括曲霉属(aspergillus)、镰刀菌属(fusarium)、青霉属(penicil-lium)和麦角菌属(claviceps).最近对来自阿根廷的链格孢属毒素(alternaria toxins)所进行的调查无疑使我们将链格孢属霉菌归人上述名单之中.尽管这些霉菌主要存在于田间以及农作物的储藏期间,但它们中的一种或多种可在作物中生长,当然这取决于多种因素.     

Tick toxicity in cats caused by Ixodes species in Australia: a review of published literature

Tick toxicity in cats caused by Ixodes holocyclus and related species is a common medical condition on the east coast of Australia. Intoxication typically causes a flaccid ascending neuromuscular paralysis and clinical signs can include anxiety, dysphonia, hind limb weakness and/or ataxia, pupillary dilation, respiratory signs and possible bladder voiding dysfunction. Diagnosis is made with a combination of appropriate clinical signs and visualisation of tick(s) on a thorough body search. Cases are classified clinically using a scoring system, which grades neuromuscular weakness and respiratory compromise. The mainstays of treatment are tick removal, administration of tick antitoxin serum and intensive supportive care. Given a prompt and appropriate management regimen, prognosis is good, according to available literature. Most of the literature concerning tick toxicity in cats is anecdotal in nature and an evidence-based review of what is known of this condition has not previously been published.     

Canine glomerulonephritis: new thoughts on proteinuria and treatment

Glomerular disease in the dog is not only a common form of renal disease but also an important cause of chronic renal failure. The presence of immune complexes in glomerular capillary walls is a major cause of canine glomerular disease and is commonly referred to as glomerulonephritis. Leakage of plasma proteins, principally albumin, across the damaged glomerular capillary walls results in persistent proteinuria--the clinicopathological hallmark of glomerulonephritis. Recent evidence suggests that, in addition to being a marker of disease, persistent proteinuria is associated with progressive glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions and loss of additional nephrons. Perhaps the best treatment for glomerulonephritis is the identification and correction of any underlying inflammatory, immune-mediated or neoplastic disease that results in the deposition or formation of glomerular immune complexes. In cases of idiopathic glomerulonephritis, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to decrease proteinuria and potentially slow disease progression.