Epidemiological investigation of Borrelia burgdorferi in horses in the municipality of Sinop-MT, Brazil.
Abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main etiological agent of Lyme disease (LD) in the USA. In Brazil, it is believed that a similar spirochete is the causal agent of the Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (BYS), a zoonosis also transmitted by ticks, whose clinical manifestations are similar to those of LD. Despite the epidemiological importance, there are no studies reporting the presence and the prevalence of B. burgdorferi among horses in Mato Grosso State. The aim of this study was to detect and measure the frequency of IgG antibodies anti-B. burgdorferi American strain G39/40 in horses in the municipality of Sinop, MT-Brazil, using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis. Blood samples from 367 horses were collected in 81 farms. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied during the visits to obtain information related to the animals and the farms. From the 367 horses, 214 were positive for B. burgdorferi sensu stricto according to the results of the ELISA test, representing an apparent prevalence of 54.04% [CI = 0.4548051-0.6237234]. Concomitantly, 89 blood samples were taken for molecular analysis by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). According to the PCR test results, none of the samples were reactive, although 53 of these samples were reactive according to ELISA. Seventy five farms (92.59%) had at least one reactive horse for B. burgdorferi. Our results support the hypothesis of the presence of anti-Borrelia spp. antibodies in horses in Mato Grosso, reaching a high animal prevalence. Besides that, leisure/sport purposes proved to be a risk factor, with an odds ratio of 3.16. These findings clearly indicate the need of borreliosis control in Sinop and make a significant contribution to the knowledge of the disease in Mato Grosso.
Publication Date: 2018-01-31 PubMed ID: 29388162DOI: 10.1007/s11250-017-1504-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Antibodies
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Infectious Disease
- Lyme Disease
- Molecular biology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Public Health
- Risk Factors
- Serological Surveys
- Seroprevalence
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Zoonotic Diseases
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 investigation primarily explores the existence and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi (a bacterium involved in Lyme disease) in horses within the Sinop municipality in Mato Grosso, Brazil. It found a high frequency of antibodies against the bacterium, suggesting a high prevalence of the disease within the sampled horse population.
Understanding Borrelia burgdorferi and its Relevance
- Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the primary etiological (causative) agent of Lyme disease in the USA.
- In Brazil, a similar spirochete (a type of bacterium) is believed to cause Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (BYS), a zoonosis (a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans) carried by ticks. BYS exhibits similar clinical manifestations to Lyme disease.
The Study’s Aim & Methodology
- The researchers wanted to identify whether B. burgdorferi was present in horses within the Mato Grosso State, and if so, determine its prevalence.
- They used an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect and measure the frequency of anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies in the blood samples collected from 367 horses across 81 farms.
- During on-site visits, the team collected epidemiological data via questionnaires to provide contextual information about the animals and farms.
- Additionally, molecular analysis was performed using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on 89 blood samples.
Findings and Implications
- According to the ELISA test results, 214 of the 367 horses were positive for B. burgdorferi, signifying an apparent prevalence of 54.04%.
- Nested PCR tests, however, didn’t identify any reactive samples, which contrasted with the ELISA results, as 53 of the samples that were reactive in ELISA didn’t react in the PCR test.
- A vast majority of the farms (92.59%) had at least one horse that was reactive for B. burgdorferi.
- Horses used for leisure/sport were identified as a risk factor for hosting B. burgdorferi, with an odds ratio of 3.16, suggesting a tripled risk.
- The study also underscores the necessity for borreliosis (Lyme disease) control in Sinop and contributes valuable knowledge about the disease’s presence in Mato Grosso.
Cite This Article
APA
Socoloski SNG, de Castro BG, Cordeiro MD, da Fonseca AH, Cepeda MB, Nicolino RR, Lopes LB.
(2018).
Epidemiological investigation of Borrelia burgdorferi in horses in the municipality of Sinop-MT, Brazil.
Trop Anim Health Prod, 50(4), 831-836.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1504-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso-UFMT, Alexandre Ferronato, n° 1200, Setor Industrial, Sinop, MT, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Federal University of Mato Grosso-UFMT, Alexandre Ferronato, n° 1200, Setor Industrial, Sinop, MT, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Rodovia 465, Km 07, s/n-Zona Rural, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Rodovia 465, Km 07, s/n-Zona Rural, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Rodovia 465, Km 07, s/n-Zona Rural, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys-UFVJM, Agronomic & Animal Sciences Institute, Av. Ver. João Narciso, 1380-Cachoeira, Unaí, MG, Brazil.
- Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril, Rodovia MT, n° 222, Km 2,5; Zona Rural, Sinop, MT, Brazil. luciano.lopes@embrapa.br.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Borrelia Infections / epidemiology
- Borrelia Infections / veterinary
- Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Lyme Disease
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Prevalence
- Zoonoses
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This article includes 10 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Kašpárková N, Bártová E, Žákovská A, Budíková M, Sedlák K. Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Clinically Healthy and Sick Horses: First Report from the Czech Republic. Microorganisms 2023 Jun 29;11(7).
- Campos JBV, Martins FS, de Oliveira CE, Taveira AA, Oliveira JR, Gonçalves LR, Cordeiro MD, Calchi AC, de Campos Binder L, Serpa MCA, Barbieri ARM, Labruna MB, Machado RZ, de Andrade GB, André MR, Herrera HM. Tick-borne zoonotic agents infecting horses from an urban area in Midwestern Brazil: epidemiological and hematological features. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021 Sep 22;53(5):475.
- 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.
- Labruna MB, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Muñoz-Leal S, Szabó MPJ, Angerami RN. Lyme borreliosis in Brazil: a critical review on the Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (Brazilian Lyme-like disease). Clin Microbiol Rev 2024 Dec 10;37(4):e0009724.
- 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).
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