Background: Tick paralysis, resultant from envenomation by the scrub-tick Ixodes holocyclus, is a serious threat for small companion animals in the eastern coast of Australia. We hypothesise that surveillance systems that are built on Internet search queries may provide a more timely indication of high-risk periods more effectively than current approaches.
Methods: Monthly tick paralysis notifications in dogs and cats across Australia and the states of Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW) were retrieved from Disease WatchDog surveillance system for the period 2011-2013. Internet search terms related to tick paralysis in small companion animals were identified using Google Correlate, and corresponding search frequency metrics were downloaded from Google Trends. Spearman's rank correlations and time series cross correlations were performed to assess which Google search terms lead or are synchronous with tick paralysis notifications.
Results: Metrics data were available for 24 relevant search terms at national level, 16 for QLD and 18 for NSW, and they were all significantly correlated with tick paralysis notifications (P < 0.05). Among those terms, 70.8, 56.3 and 50 % showed strong Spearman's correlations, at national level, for QLD, and for NSW respectively, and cross correlation analyses identified searches which lead notifications at national or state levels.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Internet search metrics can be used to monitor the occurrence of tick paralysis in companion animals, which would facilitate early detection of high-risk periods for tick paralysis cases. This study constitutes the first application of the rapidly emerging field of Internet-based surveillance to veterinary science.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4877981 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1590-6 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Intermittent High-Degree AV Block, Rash, and Facial Droop with Negative Lyme PCR.
J Emerg Med
January 2025
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Background: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, and cases of Lyme disease have nearly doubled since the early 2000s. Symptoms and presentation vary based on severity of illness, with more serious complications of disease consisting of neurologic and cardiac dysfunction. Testing is often unreliable, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecurrent Facial Paralysis in a 14-Year-Old Due to Brazilian Lyme Disease: A Case Report.
Cureus
November 2024
Internal Medicine, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, BRA.
Lyme disease is a prevalent infection in the northern hemisphere, affecting approximately 450,000 new cases annually in the United States and 65,000 in Europe. This illness is spread by the bite of ticks harboring spirochetes and develops in three progressive phases. In the second phase, neurological complications are common, including cranial nerve involvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDysphagia due to Lyme Disease: A Case Report.
Brain Neurorehabil
November 2024
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Article Synopsis
- Lyme disease is a multisystem infection that can impact various parts of the body, including joints and the nervous system, particularly if left untreated.
- A unique case is presented where a patient experienced dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), a symptom not commonly associated with Lyme disease, which usually manifests through neurological issues like facial nerve palsy.
- The increase in Lyme disease cases, especially in certain geographic regions, underscores the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for patients presenting with unusual symptoms like dysphagia.
Comprehensive analysis of the global impact and distribution of tick paralysis, a deadly neurological yet fully reversible condition.
Clin Microbiol Rev
December 2024
Research Center for Parasites and Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
SUMMARYTick paralysis is a potentially fatal condition caused by neurotoxins secreted by the salivary glands of certain ticks. Documented cases have been reported worldwide, predominantly in the United States, Canada, and Australia, with additional reports from Europe and Africa. This condition also affects animals, leading to significant economic losses and adverse impacts on animal health and welfare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagnosis and management of suspected Lyme neuroborreliosis-related facial nerve palsy in children by paediatricians and general practitioners: a French survey.
Eur J Pediatr
December 2024
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, UMR-CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environment, CHRU Besançon, Université de Franche-Comté, 25000, Besançon, France.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess how general practitioners (GPs) and pediatricians diagnose and manage facial nerve palsy in children suspected of having Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB).
- A national survey conducted from September 2018 to January 2020 yielded 598 responses, revealing that many practitioners felt uncomfortable with diagnosing LNB and often required specialist consultations or hospital admissions.
- Antibiotic treatment varied slightly between age groups, with amoxicillin and ceftriaxone being the most common choices, but overall, there was little difference in management practices between GPs and pediatricians.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!