Chart: 6 zoonoses you should know -- Lyme disease

Common disease name

Lyme disease

Scientific name

Borrelia burgdorferi

Method of infection

Cats, dogs, and people: From the bite of an infected deer tick

Signs

Cats, dogs, and people: Acute infection-may present with fever, shifting leg lameness, swollen joints, enlarged lymph nodes, lethargy, depression, and anorexia; chronic infection-shifting leg lameness caused by transient, persistent polyarthritis accompanied by progressive joint changes

Treatment

Doxycycline

People most at risk

Everyone

Prevention

• Strict monthly tick control for all pets.

• Avoid tick-infested areas.

• Keep grass closely clipped to discourage both tick populations and wildlife that often harbor ticks.

• Preventive vaccines are available in dogs.

• Wear light-colored, protective clothing.

• Perform frequent tick checks and promptly remove any ticks found.