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Home / Equine Research Bank / Microorganisms / Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Clinic...
Microorganisms2023; 11(7); doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11071706

Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Clinically Healthy and Sick Horses: First Report from the Czech Republic.

Abstract: Lyme disease, caused by some strains of bacterial spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), affects humans but also domestic animals including horses. The primary pathogens in horses in Europe are B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the seropositivity of B. burgdorferi s.l. in horses from the Czech Republic. In this country, horses are mainly used for sport, breeding, and recreational riding in areas where vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l. are present, which is why they are frequently at risk of infection. The aim of the study was to detect anti-borrelia IgM and IgG antibodies in clinically healthy and sick horses from the Czech Republic and to evaluate the risk factors of infection. In total, sera of 262 horses (247 clinically healthy horses and 15 horses hospitalized due to symptoms of encephalitis/meningoencephalitis) were examined by an indirect sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positivity of B. burgdorferi was 27% (66/247) in clinically healthy horses (21% IgM, 7% IgG and 3% IgM + IgG antibodies) and 20% (3/15) in horses with clinical signs (20% IgM, 7% IgG and 7% IgM + IgG). In the clinically healthy horses, positivity statistically differed (p ≤ 0.05) only in Pony and Warmblood breeds, being the most affected at 32% and 30%, respectively, while other characteristics (sex, age, usage and localities) had no effect on positivity. This is the first survey of antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. in Czech horses showing that horses are exposed to ticks infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. This should be taken into account when making differential diagnoses in patients with non-specific symptoms to start with adequate therapy.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-29 PubMed ID: 37512879PubMed Central: PMC10386530DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071706Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focuses on the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, in horses in the Czech Republic. With a primarily sports and breeding horse population at risk due to exposure in vector-rich areas, this study represents the first examination of these horses for the disease and seeks to raise awareness for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Research Aim and Methodology

  • The researchers aimed to detect anti-borrelia IgM and IgG antibodies in both healthy and sick horses residing in the Czech Republic. The goal was to understand the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in these animals and the associated risk factors of this infection.
  • To achieve this, the serum of 262 horses was examined using an indirect sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  • Out of these horses, 247 were clinically healthy and 15 were hospitalized due to symptoms of encephalitis/meningoencephalitis – a potential consequence of Lyme disease.

Key Findings

  • The positivity rate for B. burgdorferi was reported at 27% (66 out of 247) in clinically healthy horses (21% had IgM, 7% had IgG, and 3% had both types of antibodies).
  • In horses with clinical signs of illness, the positivity rate for B. burgdorferi was slightly lower at 20% (3 out of 15), with a similar distribution of antibodies.
  • The study found a significant difference in positivity rates among certain horse breeds (Pony and Warmblood), indicating that these breeds were more affected by the bacteria. The research did not find any connections between other factors such as sex, age, use, and location with increased positivity rates.

Implications and Conclusions

  • This research presents for the first time the evidence of exposure to ticks carrying B. burgdorferi in Czech horses.
  • Given the potential impact on these horses often used for recreation, sports, and breeding, the findings emphasize the need to consider Lyme disease while diagnosing patients with non-specific symptoms, so that appropriate therapeutic interventions can be pursued.

Cite This Article

APA
Kašpárková N, Bártová E, Žákovská A, Budíková M, Sedlák K. (2023). Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Clinically Healthy and Sick Horses: First Report from the Czech Republic. Microorganisms, 11(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071706

Publication

Microorganisms
ISSN: 2076-2607
NlmUniqueID: 101625893
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 7

Researcher Affiliations

Kašpárková, Nikola
  • Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Bártová, Eva
  • Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Žákovská, Alena
  • Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
  • Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Poříčí 7/9, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Budíková, Marie
  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
Sedlák, Kamil
  • State Veterinary Institute Prague, Sídlištní 136/24, 165 03 Prague, Czech Republic.

Grant Funding

  • 2021ITA26 / University of Veterinary Sciences Brno

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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