Arthritis and panuveitis as manifestations of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in a Wisconsin pony.
Abstract: Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi caused panuveitis and arthritis in a pony. Spirochetes were detected by direct immunofluorescence in the anterior chamber of the eye. The carpal joints had severe degenerative joint disease, with synovial proliferation. The synovium and serum had B burgdorferi antibody titers of 1:1024. The pony lived in an area of Wisconsin where infection with B burgdorferi is endemic in human beings. Previously, serum antibodies to B burgdorferi had been found in horses, but disease had not been reported.
Publication Date: 1986-11-15 PubMed ID: 3793582
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Summary
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The study reports a case of a pony in Wisconsin exhibiting symptoms of arthritis and panuveitis due to an infection by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium well-known for causing Lyme disease in humans. This is notable as it attests to the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi amongst horses in areas where the bacterium is common in humans, highlighting an unreported aspect of equine health.
Study Overview
The study involves observation and analysis of the health condition of a specific pony living in an area of Wisconsin that is well-known for human infections of Borrelia burgdorferi. The pony was found to be exhibiting signs of panuveitis and arthritis, and upon further research, these symptoms were linked to an infection by Borrelia burgdorferi.
Findings
- Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes, or spiral-shaped bacteria, were specifically identified through immunofluorescence in the anterior chamber of the pony’s eye, a condition known as panuveitis.
- Beyond ocular problems, the pony’s carpal joints showed drastic degenerative joint conditions, characterized by enhanced synovial proliferation – a typical sign of arthritis.
- The researchers detected elevated B burgdorferi antibody titers of 1:1024 in the synovium and the serum of the pony. This indicated an active immune response, signaling the presence of the bacteria in the pony’s body.
Significance of The Study
Previously, antibodies against B burgdorferi had been identified in horses, but no disease had been reported in conjunction with these findings. Thus,
- This study serves as the first record of an equine disease manifestation due to Borrelia burgdorferi.
- This report contributes to the larger veterinary health picture, providing information that may be used to better understand, prevent, and treat similar cases in the future.
- This study also highlights the potential for cross-species transmission of B burgdorferi in regions where the bacterium is endemic.
Cite This Article
APA
Burgess EC, Gillette D, Pickett JP.
(1986).
Arthritis and panuveitis as manifestations of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in a Wisconsin pony.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 189(10), 1340-1342.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthritis, Infectious / complications
- Arthritis, Infectious / diagnostic imaging
- Arthritis, Infectious / veterinary
- Borrelia Infections / complications
- Borrelia Infections / diagnostic imaging
- Borrelia Infections / pathology
- Borrelia Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Lameness, Animal / microbiology
- Radiography
- Uveitis / microbiology
- Uveitis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Broeckl CV, Hiereth S, Straubinger RK. A comparative study evaluating three line immunoassays available for serodiagnosis of equine Lyme borreliosis: Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-specific antibodies in serum samples of vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses. PLoS One 2024;19(12):e0316170.
- Gehlen H, Inerle K, Bartel A, Stöckle SD, Ulrich S, Briese B, Straubinger RK. Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infections in German Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 14;13(12).
- Wollanke B, Gerhards H, Ackermann K. Infectious Uveitis in Horses and New Insights in Its Leptospiral Biofilm-Related Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2022 Feb 7;10(2).
- Guarino C, Pinn-Woodcock T, Levine DG, Miller J, Johnson AL. Case Report: Nuchal Bursitis Associated With Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in a Horse. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:743067.
- Divers TJ, Gardner RB, Madigan JE, Witonsky SG, Bertone JJ, Swinebroad EL, Schutzer SE, Johnson AL. Borrelia burgdorferi Infection and Lyme Disease in North American Horses: A Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):617-632.
- Caol S, Divers T, Crisman M, Chang YF. In vitro susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi isolates to three antibiotics commonly used for treating equine Lyme disease. BMC Vet Res 2017 Sep 29;13(1):293.
- Johnstone LK, Engiles JB, Aceto H, Buechner-Maxwell V, Divers T, Gardner R, Levine R, Scherrer N, Tewari D, Tomlinson J, Johnson AL. Retrospective Evaluation of Horses Diagnosed with Neuroborreliosis on Postmortem Examination: 16 Cases (2004-2015). J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1305-12.
- Lee SH, Yun SH, Choi E, Park YS, Lee SE, Cho GJ, Kwon OD, Kwak D. Serological Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi among Horses in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2016 Feb;54(1):97-101.
- Shin SJ, Chang YF, Jacobson RH, Shaw E, Lauderdale TL, Appel MJ, Lein DH. Cross-reactivity between B. burgdorferi and other spirochetes affects specificity of serotests for detection of antibodies to the Lyme disease agent in dogs. Vet Microbiol 1993 Jul;36(1-2):161-74.
- Hyde FW, Johnson RC, White TJ, Shelburne CE. Detection of antigens in urine of mice and humans infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, etiologic agent of Lyme disease. J Clin Microbiol 1989 Jan;27(1):58-61.
- Goodman JL, Jurkovich P, Kramber JM, Johnson RC. Molecular detection of persistent Borrelia burgdorferi in the urine of patients with active Lyme disease. Infect Immun 1991 Jan;59(1):269-78.
- Caputa AC, Murtaugh MP, Bey RF, Loken KI. 110-kilodalton recombinant protein which is immunoreactive with sera from humans, dogs, and horses with Lyme borreliosis. J Clin Microbiol 1991 Nov;29(11):2418-23.
- Fridriksdóttir V, Nesse LL, Gudding R. Seroepidemiological studies of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in sheep in Norway. J Clin Microbiol 1992 May;30(5):1271-7.
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