Class-specific and polyvalent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in equids.

This research article discusses the development of class-specific and polyvalent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) tests for detecting antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in horses. The study revealed that 34% of the sampled horse sera contained the IgM antibody, and 16% of the total samples contained either IgM and/or IgG antibody.

Development of the Assays

• The study developed two types of ELISA tests to detect two types of antibodies in horse sera: the Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody and total immunoglobulins for Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium that causes Lyme disease in humans and animals.

Sample Collection and Analysis

• The researchers collected 122 serum specimens in 1985 from horses and ponies in tick-infested areas of Connecticut.
• Upon analysis, IgM antibodies were detected in 41 samples, accounting for about 34% of the total sera. The titration endpoints, the dilution levels where antibodies were still detectable, varied.
• The study also conducted a polyvalent ELISA test (detecting multiple types of antibodies) and discovered that 73 of 454 specimens (about 16% of the total) contained either the IgM and/or Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody, another antibody that plays a major role in immune response.

Time-Based Variations in Seropositivity

• The researchers observed that seropositivity, or the presence of these antibodies in blood, was highest during May. This may point to a seasonal trend in exposure to the bacterium, possibly related to tick activity, though the research does not explicitly state this.

Comparison of the ELISA procedures

• When comparing the sensitivity of both the class-specific and polyvalent ELISA tests, the study found them comparable. This means that both tests were almost equally effective in detecting the presence of the antibodies.

Significance of the Findings

• The presence of these antibodies indicates exposure to the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. This study, therefore, offers vital information on the prevalence of exposure to this bacterium among horses, especially in tick-infested areas.
• These assays provide an important tool in identifying and monitoring the exposure and potential infection of horses to Borrelia burgdorferi, aiding in disease control and prevention strategies.