The Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) is advising dog owners to be alert, not alarmed, after the detection of ticks carrying the disease Ehrlichiosis in South Australia.
Acting NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, Paul Freeman said Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) was spread by the brown dog tick and it couldn’t be passed directly from dog to dog.
“If dogs are being treated and/or have tick prevention then the risk of spread is very low,” Mr Freeman said.
“E. Canis has not been detected in any NSW origin dogs but several dogs which were brought into NSW from the Northern Territory were diagnosed as positive to E. canis and are undergoing veterinary treatment,” he said.
Mr Freeman said NSW DPI was focused on raising awareness and the education of pet owners, vets and shelters to ensure they knew the clinical signs of E. canis and the actions required.
“NSW has a surveillance plan which includes testing dogs with clinical signs consistent with E. Canis and targeted surveillance, including retrospectively testing historical samples,” the A/g Chief Veterinary Officer said.
“To date, results from all these tests have been negative,” he said.
Mr Freeman said people moving or bringing dogs from interstate or adopting rescue dogs should ask questions about where the animals came from and what tick prevention they had received.
“Every person bringing dogs into NSW has a general biosecurity duty to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the biosecurity risk of bringing E. canis into NSW is prevented, eliminated or minimised,” he said.
Mr Freeman said anyone who suspected E. canis in any dog in NSW should call the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
NSW DPI said the initial signs of E. canis infection were non-specific and could include fever; lethargy; enlarged lymph nodes; loss of appetite; discharge from the eyes and nose; weight loss; and bleeding disorders (spontaneous haemorrhage or bleeding).
Further information on the signs and symptoms of E. canis in dogs can be accessed at this PS News link.
