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Tick bite, rare bacteria found in dogs at center of Chatham County medical mystery
WRAL • • health
Key Points:
- Ronnie Dunn from Chatham County was hospitalized with sepsis, hearing loss, and severe symptoms after finding a large tick attached to her head, raising concerns about a possible tick-borne infection.
- Doctors suspect Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a potentially deadly tick-borne disease, but testing is complicated due to cross-reactivity of antibodies with related bacteria and the need for paired blood samples.
- Dunn's bloodwork also showed antibodies to Ehrlichia chaffeensis, responsible for ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne illness that is under-recognized in North Carolina and transmitted by the Lone Star tick.
- Additionally, bacteria commonly found in dog saliva, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, was detected in Dunn’s blood, suggesting multiple possible infection sources.
- Experts emphasize the importance of tick prevention, careful tick removal, and seeking prompt medical care if symptoms develop after a tick bite to avoid severe illness or death.
