Brown Dog Tick Diseases

The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille, rarely causes disease in humans but does cause illness in its preferred hosts--dogs. Found throughout the world, the brown dog tick is most common in warmer climates and is often found on dogs, in kennels and in houses. Brown dog ticks commonly infest dogs and their living areas. In addition to disease, when large numbers of these ticks are present, they can cause skin irritation in canines.

  1. Canine Ehrlichiosis

    • The brown dog tick passes the Ehrlichia organism into the dog's blood stream when it bites. This disease develops in three stages over several years.

      The first stage occurs several weeks after the dog is infected with the organism and causes fever and blood disorders that last for up to a month. A second phase during which no symptoms are present can last for up to five years. The final stage only develops if the dog's immune system was unable to eliminate the disease-causing organism.

      If the third stage does develop, lameness, neurological issues, eye problems, kidney disease, anemia and additional blood disorders may result. The condition can be fatal.

    Canine Babesia

    • The brown dog tick transmits the protozoan blood parasite Babesia in its bite. The Babesia parasite causes the disease known as Babesiosis. Any dog can develop the disease but it is most common in greyhounds and in dogs younger than 3 years of age.

      Affecting red blood cells, babesiosis causes anemia. Other complications can emerge and the disease can range from a mild illness to being fatal. Symptoms include pale gums, weakness, lethargy, labored breathing, failure to produce urine, excessive thirst, red urine, collapse, coma, jaundice, fever, respiratory distress, fast breathing, coughing and bloody nasal discharge.

      The dog incubates the disease for 10 to 21 days from the time of the bite until symptoms are present.

    Rickettsia conorii

    • Rickettsia conorii is a disease the brown dog tick does transmit to humans in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. The disease is also known as Mediterranean spotted fever, boutonneuse fever and tick typhus.

      In this disease, the brown dog tick transmits parasitic bacteria in its bite. The bacteria then spread throughout the body through the bloodstream. Symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, encephalitis, hypotension, acute renal failure and respiratory distress.