Dogs ' higher Lyme disease risk "

25. January 2012 stand 00: 45 GMT by Michelle Roberts Health Reporter, BBC News ticks Lyme disease can transfer to humans

Ticks that can transmit Lyme disease may be more common in the United Kingdom as, say researchers who have found them refuge like many dogs.

Experts have suspected since some a growing problem with these little pests - rates of the disease in recent years was cringing have time that the UK has.

In the year 2010 was 953 reported cases in England and Wales.

Now, after I is samples to more than 3,500 dogs Bristol University experts suspect the problem even bigger.

14.9% Had the 3.534 pet dogs, veterinary clinics in the United Kingdom between March and October 2009 ticks checks.

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without significantly better monitoring and routine diagnostic tests, Lyme disease is only expected to be more often become"

End quote believe Smith researchers lead away, 2.3% turned out to be infected.

The expected prevalence of infected ticks on dogs is 0.5% or 481 infected ticks per 100,000 dogs.

This suggests that the prevalence of this Borrelia infection in the population much higher is than previously thought, British tick Immunology compare the researchers report in the journal, microbiology and infectious diseases.

Faith Smith, who led the investigation, said: "Lyme disease seems a fast-growing problem in the United Kingdom with major health and economic impact of the loss of working time and potential decline in tourism to tick hotspots."

"Without significantly better monitoring and routine diagnostic tests Lyme disease will become only likely to frequent."

"In particular future warmer winters may also be about the ticks are active seasonal while growing wild reservoir host will enable population, such as deer, extended to expand the tick population."

Easy to see

A bite by an infected tick takes between two and four weeks to show, and who have been bitten for a "Bulls Eye" type red rash appear round should look to the bite.

You may encounter, also flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headaches and muscle and joint pain.

Left untreated, Lyme disease on the brain, heart and joints and extreme nerve damage, paralysis and blindness can result.

Ticks are very small — about the size of a poppy - and can easily be overlooked.

Found the most ticks do not wear, which is to be immediately removing the infection, but they.

You can be removed with tweezers or a hook, pulling way gently up from the skin cross.

People who develop a rash or other symptoms after a tick bite should consult their GP.

A spokesperson of health protection agency said that it was important, that people risks aware of and remain "Tick aware".

"they are out there in forest areas." She said, it's best to keep, as far as possible avoid hiking trails and long grass if you walk and to cover up the skin.

Also brushes to remove, clothing and pet coats before returning to the House in a non-attached ticks which later a feed can search.

Source BBC

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