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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Borrelia burgdorferi Infection and Lyme Disease in North Ame...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2018; 32(2); 617-632; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15042

Borrelia burgdorferi Infection and Lyme Disease in North American Horses: A Consensus Statement.

Abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi infection is common in horses living in Lyme endemic areas and the geographic range for exposure is increasing. Morbidity after B. burgdorferi infection in horses is unknown. Documented, naturally occurring syndromes attributed to B. burgdorferi infection in horses include neuroborreliosis, uveitis, and cutaneous pseudolymphoma. Although other clinical signs such as lameness and stiffness are reported in horses, these are often not well documented. Diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on exposure to B. burgdorferi, cytology or histopathology of infected fluid or tissue and antigen detection. Treatment of Lyme disease in horses is similar to treatment of humans or small animals but treatment success might not be the same because of species differences in antimicrobial bioavailability and duration of infection before initiation of treatment. There are no approved equine label Lyme vaccines but there is strong evidence that proper vaccination could prevent infection in horses.
Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2018-02-22 PubMed ID: 29469222PubMed Central: PMC5866975DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15042Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research article discusses the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection, commonly known as Lyme disease, in North American horses. It delves into potential health issues caused by the infection, the diagnosis of Lyme disease, treatment processes, and the potential for vaccination.

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Horses

  • The research indicates that Borrelia burgdorferi infections are frequently found in horses located in regions where Lyme disease is endemic. Furthermore, the likelihood of exposure to this disease is expanding in terms of geographic range.
  • The researchers note that the actual morbidity rate due to B. burgdorferi infection in horses is yet to be determined, suggesting further study in this area is required.

Symptoms and Health Consequences of Infection

  • The study identifies several naturally occurring syndromes in horses that can be attributed to B. burgdorferi infection. These include neuroborreliosis (a neurological condition), uveitis (an inflammatory condition affecting the eye), and cutaneous pseudolymphoma (a skin condition).
  • Aside from these known effects, the researchers mention other clinical signs, such as lameness and stiffness in horses, which have been linked to the disease but have not been sufficiently documented.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease in Horses

  • Lyme disease is diagnosed in horses based on exposure to B. burgdorferi, and confirmed through the examination of cytology or histopathology of the infected fluid or tissue. Additionally, antigen detection is used in diagnosis.
  • In terms of treatment, the researchers indicate that treating Lyme disease in horses is much the same as the treatment given to humans or small animals. However, the success of the treatment may not be equal across species due to differences in antimicrobial bioavailability and the length of infection before treatment is commenced.

Prospects for Vaccination

  • While the article reports that there are no approved Lyme vaccines specifically for horses, the authors suggest that there is strong evidence indicating that proper vaccination could prevent infection in horses, pointing towards a future avenue for preventing the spread of this disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Divers TJ, Gardner RB, Madigan JE, Witonsky SG, Bertone JJ, Swinebroad EL, Schutzer SE, Johnson AL. (2018). Borrelia burgdorferi Infection and Lyme Disease in North American Horses: A Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med, 32(2), 617-632. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15042

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 2
Pages: 617-632

Researcher Affiliations

Divers, T J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Gardner, R B
  • BW Furlong & Associates, Oldwick, NJ.
Madigan, J E
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California - Davis, CA.
Witonsky, S G
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Region CVM, Blacksburg, VA.
Bertone, J J
  • CVMm Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA.
Swinebroad, E L
  • Newmarket Sporthorse Medicine, Newmarket, NH.
Schutzer, S E
  • Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
Johnson, A L
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Borrelia burgdorferi
  • Consensus
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary
  • North America / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

In the past 5 years Dr Divers has received funds related to Lyme research from Merial and Zoetis. Dr Divers is employed at Cornell University which offers for diagnostic purposes a bead‐based multiple antigen ELISA assay (Multiplex) for detecting B. burgdorferi antibodies. Dr Bertone received financial support from Merial for the purpose of conducting a Lyme vaccine serologic response study.

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