This article is more about raising awareness for those pet-owners planning to travel to northern Australia with their pets and to raise awareness among pet-owners rather than suggest our local pets in southeast Qld are at immediate risk to this condition only seen in 2020 in Australia.
Ehrlichiosis is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted by the bite of a tick, the brown dog tick that exists over all of northern Australia. This is a different tick species to the east coast paralysis tick which most of us are familiar.
Ehrlichiosis has only been reported in Australia since May 2020, initially seen in WA and since then in the Northern Territory, South Australia and late in 2022 in northwest Qld in Mt Isa and Townsville.
Symptoms include; fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, cloudy eyes, pain and stiffness and bleeding disorders (nosebleeds or bruising).
This condition has not been diagnosed in southeast Qld – so these symptoms could be expected in a number of other conditions which would be more likely in our local area of southeast Qld.
Diagnosis is by a blood test and treatment is with a readily available antibiotic in the acute (early) phase. Chronic disease can be more difficult making prevention always the best option. The condition is a “notifiable disease” which means positive cases need to be reported to state biosecurity.
What should you do?
If you are not travelling to the north of Australia you should continue your normal use of products that protect from paralysis ticks that are still the far greater risk to your pet`s well-being.
If you are planning to travel with your pet to northern Australia you should use 2 forms of tick protection; products registered that both kills ticks (Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica) that are adequate for local tick paralysis and a product that repels ticks like a long lasting tick collar (e.g. Seresto) to stop the ticks attaching and injecting the bacteria that causes Ehrlichiosis
Tick paralysis is transmitted by the bite of the paralysis tick and is caused by a neurotoxin that is injected from the tick. This condition can be usually prevented by products like Bravecto, Nexgard and Simparica. These products work by killing the ticks within 24 to 48 hours after attachment. In this time there is not enough neurotoxin injected to cause paralysis. For these products to work the tick does attach.
With Ehrlichiosis, the bacteria can be injected as soon as the tick attaches and cause infection so a product to repel the tick from your dog`s coat before they attach and inject the bacteria is recommended. This is the difference between the prevention of paralysis tick and the brown dog tick that spreads Ehrlichiosis.
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By Albany Creek Veterinary Surgery
Last updated on 1 March 2023