Using Dogs to Track Lyme Disease Risk in West Virginia
Dogs may provide an early warning system for Lyme disease risk in humans.
Researchers have long used animal sentinel studies to monitor the spread of Lyme disease. Domestic dogs are particularly useful because of their frequent outdoor exposure, known travel history, and ability to develop antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, explains Hendricks.
Dogs as Sentinel Indicators
Hendricks and colleagues analyzed Lyme disease cases and ticks submitted by 62 veterinary practices to the West Virginia State Health Department between 2014 and 2016.
They identified 1,305 Ixodes scapularis ticks removed from dogs, compared with 363 from cats.
The findings suggest that dogs serve as more reliable sentinel populations for monitoring Lyme disease risk.
Dogs can help identify areas at higher risk for human exposure to Lyme disease.
Shifting Risk in West Virginia
Based on surveillance data, West Virginia can no longer be considered a low-incidence state.
“States which have high incidence status have ≥10 confirmed cases of Lyme disease per 100,000 persons for the last three reporting years,” writes Hendricks. West Virginia met this threshold based on data from 2014 to 2016.
This shift highlights the expanding geographic range of Lyme disease. For more on risk and prevention, see Lyme disease prevention.
Clinical Implications
Monitoring tick exposure in dogs may help identify emerging risk areas before human case counts rise.
For clinicians and patients, awareness of regional changes in Lyme disease incidence is essential for early recognition and timely treatment.
Clinical Takeaway
Dogs can serve as practical sentinel indicators for Lyme disease risk. Rising tick exposure in pets may signal increased risk for human infection in the same region.
Related Articles:
Testing ticks for Lyme disease
Using dogs to map Lyme disease
References:
- Hendricks B, Mark-Carew M, Conley J. Evaluating companion animal tick surveillance for monitoring human Lyme disease risk in West Virginia. Geospat Health. 2017;12(2):582.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
