Infectious Disease

Question 1

Which tick is most commonly responsible for Borrelia burgdorferi in the USA and, conversely, Europe?

Answer 1

USA: Ixodes scapularis, I. pacificus in the pacific states.
Europe: Ixodes ricinus

Question 2

What other bacterial organism is co-transmitted with B. burgdorferi?

Answer 2

Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Question 3

Which is the more common manifestation of Lyme disease in dogs: Lyme nephritis or arthritis?

Answer 3

Arthritis

Question 4

Which European breed is more often reported to be seropositive to Lyme disease?

Answer 4

Bernese mountain dog.

Question 5

Which Borrelia antigens are not present in vaccines?

Answer 5

C6, VlsE and OspF

n.b. OspA, in contrast, is more in vaccinated

Question 6

Which serological tests are not recommended for diagnosis of Borrelia?

Answer 6

Whole cell ELISA
IFA
Western blot
IgM vs. IgG.

Question 7

How long should Borrelia be treated for (clinically affected cases)?

Answer 7

4 weeks

Question 8

What treatment is recommended for immune complex glomerulonephritis?

Answer 8

Mycophenolate - minimum of 12 weeks as an immunosuppressive ‘trial’
Prednisolone can be considered for extremely financially constrained cases.

Question 9

What is the recommended screening for dogs living in Borrelia endemic areas in North America?

Answer 9

Annual qualitative antibody assays. If seropositive then perform follow up proteinuria screening (2-3x yearly) and minimum database.

Question 10

What surface protein do Borrelia vaccines act against?

Answer 10

OspA - thus preventing transmission from the tick to the dog. Some also do OspC.

Question 11

What is the organism in the picture?

Answer 11

Babesia, a big one!

Question 12

What is the organism in the atached picture?

Answer 12

Mycoplasma

Question 13

What is the organism in the attached picture?

Answer 13

Anaplasma (note that these are morula inside a granulocyte)

Question 14

What is the organism in the attached picture?

Answer 14

Ehrlichia - note that the morula is within a monocyte (in contrast to Anaplasma that would be in a granulocyte like a neutrophil).

Question 15

What is the organism in the attached picture?

Answer 15

Cytauxzoan

Question 16

What is the organism in the attached picture?

Answer 16

Borrelia (Lyme disease)

Question 17

Which organisms may be present within the following vector?

Answer 17

Babesia

Ehrlichia canis

Bartonella vinsonii ss. berkhoffi

Hepatozoon canis

Question 18

Which organisms may be present within the following vector?

Answer 18

Ehrlicia chaffenesis
Ehrlichia ewingii
Cytauxzoonosis
Hepatozoon americanum

Question 19

Which organisms may be present within the following vector?

Answer 19

Babesia
Anaplasma phagocytophilium
Borrelia

Question 20

Which organisms may be present within the following vector?

Answer 20

Babesia
Rocky mountain spotted fever
Cytauxzoonosis

Question 21

Identify the organisms and vectors

Answer 21

Top - B. canis

Bottom - B. gibsoni

Vector = Rhipicephalus sanguniaeus, Dermacentor and Ixodes

Question 22

Which breed seems predisposed to Babesia canis vogeli?

Answer 22

Greyhounds

Question 23

Which breed would you be most concerned about B. gibsoni?

Answer 23

Pitbulls - this seems typically to be transmitted by fighting dogs although some tick transmission can occur,

Question 24

Outline the lifecycle of B. canis

Answer 24

1. Sporozoites infect the host
2. Asexual reproduction in RBC releases merozoites
3. Merozoites transmitted to tick where sexual reproduction occurs

Question 25

Most common haematological finding in canine babesiosis?

Answer 25

Thrombocytopenia

Question 26

Identify this organism

Answer 26

Leishmania