Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

What is Rocky Mountain the urine or stool. The nervous system RMSF can be a very severe illness spotted fever (RMSF) and (brain) may be involved and result in and require hospitalization. The what causes it? behavior changes, head tremors, bacteria attack the cells lining blood Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a difficulty standing or walking. In vessels throughout the body and can serious bacterial infection spread by severe cases, damage to the heart, involve the lungs, brain or kidneys. shock and death can occur. ticks. Disease can occur in humans Who should I contact, if I and dogs. As its name suggests, the Can I get RMSF? suspect RMSF? disease was first discovered in the Yes. People get RMSF from the In Animals – Rocky Mountain area of the U.S., bite of an infected tick (vector) or Contact your veterinarian. however, today the majority of cases contact with tick feces or fluids during In Humans – (about 700 per year) occur on the removal. Several hours of attachment Contact your physician. Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the of the tick is required for transfer of the south-central United States. bacteria. Direct transmission of RMSF How can I protect my animal from RMSF? What animals get RMSF? from dogs has not been reported, but Use tick prevention medications RMSF only affectsdogs. The dogs can carry infected ticks in close contact with humans. on your dog. Keep your pets out bacteria have been found in a number of wooded areas and away from of small mammals, including mice, Early stages of disease are non- specific (fever, nausea, body aches, wildlife. Check them often for ticks rats, rabbits, opossums, chipmunks, and remove any ticks found promptly. and squirrels. vomiting, headache). Later signs may include a skin rash, abdominal Wear gloves when removing ticks to How can my animal get pain, joint pain and diarrhea. The rash protect yourself. RMSF? usually starts on the arms and ankles How can I protect myself The bacterial agent that causes and moves to the palms of the hands from RMSF? or soles of the feet. Three things that RMSF is spread by the bite of an Avoid tick prone areas (leaf litter, may suggest RMSF infection are fever, infected tick (vector). Small mammals, wooded areas, high brush). If entering rash and history of a tick bite. especially small rodents, can carry the these areas, wear long sleeves, long bacteria in nature with no signs of pants, closed toed shoes. Wearing illness. Ticks get the bacteria when light colored clothing will make they feed (bloodmeal) on infected finding any ticks on you easier. Check wildlife. The ticks then spread the yourself and others frequently for bacteria to dogs or humans when Rocky Mountain ticks, especially when leaving wooded feeding again. Spotted Fever areas. Remove ticks promptly; wear How does RMSF affect my is a bacterial disease gloves when removing ticks. Always animal? spread by ticks that can wash your hands afterwards. Cases of RMSF have only been affect dogs and humans. For More Information reported for dogs. Typically only mild signs of disease occur, these CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Rocky Mountain may include fever, swollen glands, Spotted Fever at http://www.cfsph. iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/ coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, joint or muscle pain. Signs of severe disease CDC website. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever at http://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/ may involve redden eyes, vision problems (due to damage to the eye), Photo shows an American dog tick and immune bleeding from the nose or blood in cells infected with the RMSF bacteria (purple)