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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Horses Presented f...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2016; 30(4); 1300-1304; doi: 10.1111/jvim.13973

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Horses Presented for Coggins Testing in Southwest Virginia and Change in Positive Test Results Approximately 1 Year Later.

Abstract: Lyme disease can affect people, dogs, and horses, but it remains poorly understood, especially in the horse. Determining the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in horses in different geographic areas will enable better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease, thus improving diagnosis and treatment of affected animals. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi in horses in southwest Virginia. Methods: Horses presented for routine Coggins testing from January 2013 to January 2014 had additional blood drawn for Lyme Multiplex Assay testing. Methods: Of 492 samples collected, 250 samples were analyzed using the Lyme Multiplex Assay. Of the 83 horses that had positive test results to at least 1 outer surface protein (Osp), 63 were available for follow-up testing 5-17 months later (June 2014). Results: Thirty-three percent of horses had positive results for antibodies to at least 1 Osp. Horses with a positive outer surface protein F (OspF) result were older (14.5 ± 0.79) than horses with a negative OspF result (11.6 ± 0.53). Of the horses available for follow-up testing, 63% had the same result as that of the initial test. There was no difference in test result between initial and follow-up testing. Conclusions: Horses seropositive to B. burgdorferi are common in Virginia, and older horses are more likely to have a positive test result for OspF than younger horses. Follow-up testing indicated that the majority of horses that were positive on initial testing did not have a different test result 5-17 months later.
Copyright © 2016 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: 2016-05-23 PubMed ID: 27214745PubMed Central: PMC5089602DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13973Google 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.

This research study aims to understand the prevalence of Lyme disease-causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, in horses in Southwest Virginia and compare this prevalence after approximately one year. The study uncovered that older horses were more likely to test positive for one of the proteins produced by the bacteria, and that a significant proportion of horses tested maintained their disease status even after one year.

Objective

The objective of the study was to gauge the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a bacterium that leads to Lyme disease, in horses located in the southwestern part of Virginia. Seroprevalence refers to the level of individuals in a population who test positive for a specific disease based on serum (blood) markers. This would aid in enhancing the comprehension of disease’s widespread, supporting improved diagnosis and treatment of afflicted animals.

Methods

  • The method adopted for the research was blood testing of the horses who were presented for regular Coggins testing, a test to diagnose Equine Infectious Anemia, over a period of one year from January 2013 to January 2014.
  • Out of 492 samples collected, 250 were analysed further using the Lyme Multiplex Assay testing. This testing technique uses multiple markers to detect the presence of antibodies produced by the host (in this case, horses) in response to the Lyme disease-causing bacteria.
  • Among the 83 horses that resulted positive to at least one outer surface protein (Osp), which is proteins produced by the bacteria, 63 were subjected to follow-up testing after 5-17 months.

Results

  • The research showed that 33% of horses exhibited positive results for antibodies to at least one outer surface protein (Osp). These Osps are the proteins against which the host’s immune system generates antibodies.
  • It was observed that horses with a positive outer surface protein F (OspF) result were older (average age of 14.5 years) as compared to horses with a negative result (average age of 11.6 years).
  • In the follow-up testing performed 5-17 months later, 63% of horses displayed the same result as that of the initial test indicating a persistence of the disease.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that horses seropositive to Borrelia burgdorferi are commonplace in Virginia. The term ‘seropositive’ means the presence of antibodies in the blood serum, indicating a past or present infection.
  • Older horses have been found to bear a higher likelihood of a positive test result for OspF than younger counterparts.
  • Follow-up testing disclosed that more than half of horses that resulted positive in the initial test did not exhibit a different result about a year later.

Cite This Article

APA
Funk RA, Pleasant RS, Witonsky SG, Reeder DS, Werre SR, Hodgson DR. (2016). Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Horses Presented for Coggins Testing in Southwest Virginia and Change in Positive Test Results Approximately 1 Year Later. J Vet Intern Med, 30(4), 1300-1304. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13973

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 4
Pages: 1300-1304

Researcher Affiliations

Funk, R A
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
Pleasant, R S
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
Witonsky, S G
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
Reeder, D S
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
Werre, S R
  • Laboratory for Study Design and Statistical Analysis, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
Hodgson, D R
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Borrelia burgdorferi
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Lyme Disease / blood
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Virginia / epidemiology

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Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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