Lyme Disease Research Paper

Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of a tick that carries the bacteria that can cause it and it is a zoonotic disease. The scientific name of the thick that carries the disease is Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis in the United States. Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus in Europe and Asia. This disease affects humans, and most of the mammals that we know. This disease works in a cycle way and it has been extensively study. It takes 1-2 days for it to transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
Lyme disease was first described in 1975 when an unusual outbreak of rheumatoid arthritis occurring in children was reported in Lyme, Connecticut. In 1982, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi was determined to be …show more content…
When a tick feeds on the infected wildlife the tick picks up the bacteria, then they transmit the bacteria to another animal the next time they feed. There are clinical signs that show when a pet is infected with this bacterium such arthritis, which causes sudden lameness, pain and sometimes swelling in one or more joints. Other signs are fever, lack of appetite, dehydration, inactivity, and swollen lymph nodes. This bacterium can also cause problems in the kidney and death. Many dogs affected with Lyme disease are taken to a veterinarian because they seem to be experiencing generalized pain and have stopped eating. Affected dogs have been described as if they were "walking on eggshells." Often these pets have high fevers. Dogs may also begin limping. This painful lameness often appears suddenly and may shift from one leg to another. If untreated, it may eventually disappear, only to recur weeks or months later. There are ways to prevent this disease, the best way to protect pets from Lyme disease is to take preventive measures to reduce the chance of contracting it such as use reliable tick-preventive products, vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease, check for ticks on both yourself and your animals once indoors (“Lyme Disease: A Pet Owner's …show more content…
Dogs can be diagnosed by taking two blood tests. The first is an antibody test. This test does not detect the actual spirochete in the blood but does detect the presence of antibodies created by exposure to the organism. A test can be falsely negative if the dog is infected but has not yet formed antibodies, or if it never forms enough antibodies to cause a positive reaction. This may occur in animals with suppressed immune systems (“Lyme Disease in dogs”). The second test is the polymerase chain reaction test, a DNA test that is very specific and sensitive. However, not all dogs have the spirochete in their blood cells. If a blood sample is tested, a false negative may occur. The best sample for PCR testing is the fluid from an affected joint (“Lyme Disease in

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