LYME DISEASE IN CANINES: LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease, with worldwide distribution, caused by a spirochete bacterium of the genus Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. It is transmitted by Ixodidae ticks during their blood meal. It affects different species of wild and domestic animals and also man, manifesting itself in a multisystemic way. Domestic mammals, despite being mostly asymptomatic, may present clinical manifestations with non-specific conditions, such as joint changes, lethargy, anorexia, lymphadenopathy and even renal, cardiac and neurological changes. Dogs are considered to be sentinels of the disease in humans. The diagnosis must be based on clinical symptoms as well as epidemiological criteria, and be duly supported by serological tests. The main treatment consists of the administration of antibiotics, especially tetracyclines, and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is considered extremely important to perform borreliosis prophylaxis through the control of arthropod vectors of the bacterium.