Lyme Disease in Canada

The pathologist alerted the internist to the possibility of infectious disease, including a rickettsial infections, as soon as the histology sections were reviewed. The diagnosis was confirmed as Rocky Mountain Spotted fever (RMSF) 48 h later, upon receipt of serology results revealing an extremely high titre (1:8,192) to Rickettsia rickettsii. Treatment consisted of supportive care, chloramphenicol 40 mg/kg three times a day (Bimeda Inc., Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA) and gastroprotectants due to the suspicion of doxycycline intolerance. Two weeks later the dog’s demeanour was normal and the skin lesions were resolving. The areas of skin infarction had sloughed and were healing by granulation tissue and contraction.