Antibody detection against Borrelia burgdorferi in horses located in the suburban areas of Monterrey, Nuevo León.
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in horses from the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. Blood serum was obtained from a total of 100 horses residing at different counties in the area. From each animal data was obtained on age, sex, county of residence, presence of ectoparasites and clinical signs. All sera samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluoresence and the sera that resulted positive to this test was analyzed by Western blot. The serological test yielded 34 positive sera at 1:64 dilution, and from them 6 were positive at 1:128 dilution, 3 at 1:256, and only one at 1:512. Confirmation of the infection by Western blot was obtained only in the sample positive at the 1:512 dilution. These results shown a low frequency of seropositivity to B. burgdorferi of the horses in the area, confirming previous studies indicating that in northeast Mexico Lyme disease is present in different animal species.
Publication Date: 2006-10-26 PubMed ID: 17061503
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigated the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in horses located in Monterrey, Mexico. The results showed a low frequency of seropositivity, further affirming the existence of Lyme disease in different animal species in northeast Mexico.
Research Objectives and Methodology
- The main objective of this study was to detect the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in horses in the suburbs of Monterrey, Mexico. Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacterium causing Lyme disease.
- The researchers collected blood serum from 100 horses across various counties in Monterrey, capturing data on each horse’s age, sex, county of residence, clinical signs, and the presence of ectoparasites.
- The team used indirect immunofluorescence to analyze all serum samples. Any positive serum from this process was further examined using a Western blot test.
Findings and Interpretation
- The serological test gave 34 positive results at a 1:64 dilution. Of these, six samples were positive at a 1:128 dilution, three at a 1:256 dilution, and one at a 1:512 dilution.
- The Western blot test, which confirmed the presence of infection, was successful only with the sample positive at the highest dilution of 1:512.
- The low numbers of positive sera suggest a low frequency of horses having the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies, i.e., low seropositivity to B. burgdorferi.
- The findings align with previous studies, confirming the presence of Lyme disease in various animal species in northeast Mexico. Even though the number is low, the presence of antibodies indicates exposure to the B. burgdorferi bacteria, pointing at the existence of Lyme disease in these regions.
Significance of the Study
- This study’s findings add to the body of evidence supporting the existence of Lyme disease in various animal species in northeastern Mexico.
- The study affirms that horses in suburban Monterrey can contract Lyme disease, which helps with understanding the disease’s spread and may inform control and prevention strategies.
- The results also show the importance of utilizing sensitive detection methods like Western blot for confirming B. burgdorferi infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Salinas-Mélendez JA, Galván de la Garza S, Riojas-Valdés VM, Wong González A, Avalos-Ramírez R.
(2006).
Antibody detection against Borrelia burgdorferi in horses located in the suburban areas of Monterrey, Nuevo León.
Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 43(4), 161-164.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Unidad Mederos, Monterrey, México. antoniosalinas@hotmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
- Bites and Stings / complications
- Bites and Stings / microbiology
- Blotting, Western
- Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses / immunology
- Horses / parasitology
- Ixodes / microbiology
- Lyme Disease / diagnosis
- Lyme Disease / epidemiology
- Lyme Disease / transmission
- Lyme Disease / veterinary
- Male
- Mexico / epidemiology
- Tick Infestations / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Laamari A, Azzag N, Tennah S, Derdour SY, China B, Boꯚllah R, Ghalmi F. Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Anaplasma Phagocytophilum and Borrelia Burgdorferi in Horses (Equus Caballus) from Northern Algeria.. J Vet Res 2020 Sep;64(3):413-419.
- Skinner-Taylor CM, Flores MS, Salinas JA, Arevalo-Niño K, Galán-Wong LJ, Maldonado G, Garza-Elizondo MA. Antibody profile to Borrelia burgdorferi in veterinarians from Nuevo León, Mexico, a non-endemic area of this zoonosis.. Reumatologia 2016;54(3):97-102.
- Galaviz-Silva L, Pérez-Treviño KC, Molina-Garza ZJ. Distribution of ixodid ticks on dogs in Nuevo León, Mexico, and their association with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.. Exp Appl Acarol 2013 Dec;61(4):491-501.
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