Topics in Infectious Disease
Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests for Infectious Disease
When You Hear Hooves, Think Zebras: The Unsuspected Zoonosis
Logistics of Lyme: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Presented by: Jane Sykes BVSc, PhD, MBA, DACVIM
Learning Objectives:- Be able to better interpret diagnostic tests for infectious disease
- Understand Lyme disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
- Consider zoonotic diseases in differential diagnoses
Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests for Infectious Disease
With increased availability of point-of-care diagnostic tests, it is more important than ever that practitioners understand how to properly interpret diagnostic test results. This lecture describes diagnostic test types for infectious diseases and provides case examples that illustrate how interpretation is not straightforward and requires critical consideration of reasons for positive and negative results.
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When You Hear Hooves, Think Zebras: The Unsuspected Zoonosis
Veterinarians are generally trained to ‘hear horses’ when they are developing a list of differential diagnoses for illness in companion animals. However, veterinarians should always consider the ‘zebras’ for zoonoses that have the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. These zoonoses include bacterial diseases such as brucellosis, bordetellosis, leptospirosis, coxiellosis, tularemia, plague, and tuberculosis; and the fungal disease sporotrichosis. Brucellosis, coxiellosis, tularemia, plague, tuberculosis and sporotrichosis are covered in this talk using a case-based format.
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Logistics of Lyme: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
This presentation will review current understanding of the epidemiology of Lyme disease in dogs and humans, with a focus on North America. The approach to diagnosis of the disease, including what to do about unexpected positive test results, will be explored. Treatment options, Lyme vaccines and how they work, and the value of tick prevention will also be covered. Case descriptions will be included to illustrate the concepts presented.