Ticks Can Infect Pets and Humans

By MICHAEL DAVIS Journal Staff Writer

A pair of South Valley pets were attacked by disease-carrying ticks, leaving both sickened and one fighting for its life.

The lab crosses belonging to Rhonda K. Reinert have been diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever — the most severe and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the United States.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a species of bacteria that is spread to humans and other mammals by ticks.

The disease is difficult to diagnose in its early stages because it mimics the symptoms of other less serious illnesses. It is potentially fatal.

According to the center, initial symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache and muscle pain, followed by a rash. Rocky Mountain spotted fever often has been referred to as the black measles.

Dr. Paul Ettistad, public health veterinarian with the state Department of Health, said if people exhibit those symptoms, especially if they have a recent history of a tick bite, they need to see their doctor as soon as possible.

"Antibiotics are very effective against Rocky Mountain spotted fever, especially within the first four to five days of being diagnosed," he said. "People with a good immune system can eliminate it from their bodies, but it is potentially fatal."

Reinert said her dogs were diagnosed last week.

"The symptoms in both dogs began with the sudden limping of a front leg, followed by almost total weakness in the hind legs," she said in a phone interview. "You’d never think of that as an early symptom of a tick disease. Veterinarians initially told me it could possibly be arthritis."

Her dogs also exhibited extreme pain and yelped loudly for no apparent reason, she said. Walking became almost impossible for one dog and eye problems occurred as well.

According to Ettistad, one human case was reported this year in New Mexico. Two human cases were reported last year. The Health Department usually doesn’t track the disease in animal populations.

"The name is kind of a misnomer," he said. "It was discovered in Idaho but there are a lot more cases in the east than are found out here. It’s fairly rare and occasionally found in humans and dogs. We encourage veterinarians to let people know about it and to get pets some kind of flea and tick protection."

While infectious disease experts have reported the possible spread of the disease, Ettistad said cases in New Mexico are small isolated incidents.

"The New England Journal of Medicine recently reported a significant outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in eastern Arizona," he said. "But there were weather factors and population exposure factors in Arizona that most people here don’t have to contend with."

Ettistad said prevention is the key to fighting Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

"It’s important for people to realize there are ticks out there that carry the disease," he said. "If you or your children or pets are roaming in areas where there are ticks, your best defense is a tick check."

Ettistad recommended that people going into areas that may be tick-infested wear light-colored clothing in order to see ticks crawling on them. They also should tuck their pants legs into their socks.

"I know that looks silly but it will prevent ticks from crawling up your pants legs," he said. "Insect repellents such as DEET can deter ticks as well."

If a tick is found, it’s important to remove it with fine tweezers or a notched tick remover, he said.

"Most importantly, remember that old-time remedies like smearing the tick with petroleum jelly or lit matches do not work and can make it worse," he said. "All that will do is irritate the tick and cause it to regurgitate the contents of its guts into your bloodstream, making it a lot more likely that you’ll get infected by a tickborne illness."