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Veterinary pathology2011; 48(6); 1151-1157; doi: 10.1177/0300985811398246

Lyme neuroborreliosis in 2 horses.

Abstract: Lyme neuroborreliosis--characterized as chronic, necrosuppurative to nonsuppurative, perivascular to diffuse meningoradiculoneuritis--was diagnosed in 2 horses with progressive neurologic disease. In 1 horse, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was identified by polymerase chain reaction amplification of B burgdorferi sensu stricto-specific gene targets (ospA, ospC, flaB, dbpA, arp). Highest spirochetal burdens were in tissues with inflammation, including spinal cord, muscle, and joint capsule. Sequence analysis of ospA, ospC, and flaB revealed 99.9% sequence identity to the respective genes in B burgdorferi strain 297, an isolate from a human case of neuroborreliosis. In both horses, spirochetes were visualized in affected tissues with Steiner silver impregnation and by immunohistochemistry, predominantly within the dense collagenous tissue of the dura mater and leptomeninges.
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Publication Date: 2011-02-01 PubMed ID: 21285382DOI: 10.1177/0300985811398246Google 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 two cases of chronic Lyme neuroborreliosis in horses, a condition caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, leading to neurologic disease. The bacteria was found in various tissues, with major concentrations in areas of inflammation like spinal cord, muscle, and joint capsule.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The research paper studies Lyme neuroborreliosis, a condition seen as a progressive neurological disease in horses. The condition is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto.
  • The diagnosis was made by identifying Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. PCR is a method widely used in molecular biology to make copies of a specific DNA segment, which helps in identification of the organism.
  • The researchers focused on specific gene targets – ospA, ospC, flaB, dbpA, arp of the bacteria for PCR amplification.

Findings

  • The research found that the tissues with inflammation, including spinal cord, muscle, and joint capsule, had the highest concentration of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, indicating that the bacteria tends to colonize areas of inflammation.
  • Sequence analysis of the genes ospA, ospC, and flaB showed a 99.9% sequence identity to the respective genes in B burgdorferi strain 297. This strain 297 is isolated from a human case of neuroborreliosis, revealing that the infection in horses is nearly identical at the genetic level to that seen in humans.

Visualization of Spirochetes

  • In both horses, the researchers were able to visualize the spirochetes – the type of bacteria responsible for this disease – in the affected tissues using Steiner silver impregnation and immunohistochemistry.
  • Most of the spirochetes were found within the dense collagenous tissue of the dura mater and leptomeninges, the layers that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Cite This Article

APA
Imai DM, Barr BC, Daft B, Bertone JJ, Feng S, Hodzic E, Johnston JM, Olsen KJ, Barthold SW. (2011). Lyme neuroborreliosis in 2 horses. Vet Pathol, 48(6), 1151-1157. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985811398246

Publication

Veterinary pathology
ISSN: 1544-2217
NlmUniqueID: 0312020
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 6
Pages: 1151-1157

Researcher Affiliations

Imai, D M
  • Center of Comparative Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Barr, B C
    Daft, B
      Bertone, J J
        Feng, S
          Hodzic, E
            Johnston, J M
              Olsen, K J
                Barthold, S W

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Animals
                  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
                  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
                  • Bacterial Typing Techniques / veterinary
                  • Borrelia burgdorferi / genetics
                  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology
                  • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
                  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
                  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
                  • Female
                  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
                  • Goats
                  • Horse Diseases / immunology
                  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
                  • Horse Diseases / pathology
                  • Horses
                  • Joint Capsule / microbiology
                  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / immunology
                  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / microbiology
                  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / pathology
                  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / veterinary
                  • Male
                  • Muscles / microbiology
                  • Rabbits
                  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary
                  • Species Specificity
                  • Spinal Cord / microbiology

                  Grant Funding

                  • R01 AI 26815 / NIAID NIH HHS
                  • T32 AI 06055 / NIAID NIH HHS
                  • T35 RR 07067 / NCRR NIH HHS

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                  This article has been cited 20 times.
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