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The Korean journal of parasitology2016; 54(1); 97-101; doi: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.97

Serological Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi among Horses in Korea.

Abstract: Lyme disease is a tick-borne zoonotic infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. The present study assessed the infection status of B. burgdorferi among horses reared in Korea using ELISA and PCR. Between 2009 and 2013, blood samples were collected from 727 horses throughout Korea. Data for each animal including age, gender, breed, and region of sample collection were used for epidemiological analysis. Overall, 38 (5.2%; true prevalence: 5.5%) of 727 horses were seropositive by ELISA. There were statistically significant differences according to breed and region (P<0.001) whose differences might be attributed to the ecology of vector ticks and climate conditions. Using 2 nested PCR, none of the samples tested positive for B. burgdorferi. Thus, a positive ELISA result can indicate only that the tested horse was previously exposed to B. burgdorferi, with no certainty over the time of exposure. Since global warming is likely to increase the abundance of ticks in Korea, continuous monitoring of tick-borne diseases in Korean horses is needed.
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Publication Date: 2016-02-26 PubMed ID: 26951987PubMed Central: PMC4792323DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.97Google 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 study examines the presence of Lyme disease, caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, in horses in Korea. The research indicates that while there were instances where horses were exposed to the bacteria, none of the tested samples were positively identified as having the disease.

Background and Methodology

  • The study focused on Lyme disease, a zoonotic infectious disease that is transferred to humans by ticks. This disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi.
  • The researchers collected blood samples from 727 horses from various locations in Korea over a span of four years, from 2009 to 2013.
  • The collected data also included specific details about each horse’s age, gender, breed, and the region where the sample was collected. These details were considered for a thorough epidemiological analysis.

Findings

  • The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test was used to check for the presence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi in the horses’ blood, which indicates exposure to the bacteria – not necessarily an active infection.
  • The ELISA test revealed that out of the 727 horses, 38 of them (about 5.2% of the total) were seropositive, suggesting that they had been exposed to B. burgdorferi.
  • The researchers found statistically significant differences based on the breed and the geographical region where the samples were collected. The reason for these differences might be down to varying climate conditions and the prevalence of vector ticks in each area.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing

  • In addition to the ELISA test, the research used 2 nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to identify the presence of the DNA of B. burgdorferi which would indicate an active infection.
  • However, none of the samples tested through PCR showed a positive result for B. burgdorferi, suggesting none of the tested horses had an active infection during the period of the study.

Implications

  • The findings of the study imply that the tested horses might have been exposed to B. burgdorferi in the past. However, it doesn’t signify an ongoing bacterial presence or an active infection.
  • The study deemed it necessary to continue monitoring tick-borne diseases in horses in Korea given the anticipated rise in tick populations due to global warming.

Cite This Article

APA
Lee SH, Yun SH, Choi E, Park YS, Lee SE, Cho GJ, Kwon OD, Kwak D. (2016). Serological Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi among Horses in Korea. Korean J Parasitol, 54(1), 97-101. https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.97

Publication

The Korean journal of parasitology
ISSN: 1738-0006
NlmUniqueID: 9435800
Country: Korea (South)
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 97-101

Researcher Affiliations

Lee, Seung-Hun
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.
Yun, Sun-Hee
  • Division of Veterinary Service Lab, Institute of Public Health & Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea.
Choi, Eunsang
  • Smile Equine Clinic, Busan 46745, Korea.
Park, Yong-Soo
  • Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju 54874, Korea.
Lee, Sang-Eun
  • Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju 28159, Korea.
Cho, Gil-Jae
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.
Kwon, Oh-Deog
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.
Kwak, Dongmi
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea ; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / physiology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary
  • Male
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest related to this study.

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This article has been cited 17 times.
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