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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anapla...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2010; 52(1); 3; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-52-3

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Danish horses.

Abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are able to infect horses. However, the extend to which Danish horses are infected and seroconvert due to these two bacteria is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and A. phagocytophilum in Danish horses. Methods: A total of 390 blood samples collected from all major regions of Denmark and with a geographical distribution corresponding to the density of the Danish horse population were analyzed. All samples were examined for the presence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato and A. phagocytophilum by the use of the SNAP 4DX ELISA test. Results: Overall, 29.0% of the horses were seropositive for B. burgdorferi sensu lato whereas 22.3% were seropositive for A. phagocytophilum. Conclusions: Antibodies against B burgdorferi sensu lato and A. phagocytophilum are commonly found among Danish horses thus showing that Danish horses are frequently infected by these organisms.
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Publication Date: 2010-01-18 PubMed ID: 20082693PubMed Central: PMC2818635DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-52-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 assesses the prevalence of two bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, in the horse population of Denmark. The study discovered that a significant percentage of Danish horses have been infected by these bacteria.

Objective and Methodology

  • The article addresses the lack of knowledge regarding the extent of infection by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Danish horses. Both these bacteria are known to infect horses, but the prevalence within the Danish horse population hadn’t been determined prior to this study.
  • By evaluating the seroprevalence of these bacteria, the researchers were trying to ascertain how common these infections are in the horse population under study.
  • A total of 390 blood samples were collected from horses across all major regions of Denmark, ensuring sample distribution matching the distribution of the Danish horse population.
  • The collected samples were tested with the SNAP 4DX ELISA test, a credible testing system commonly used to look for antibodies against specific bacteria, including B. burgdorferi sensu lato and A. phagocytophilum.

Results and Conclusions

  • The study found that 29.0% of the Danish horses showed seropositivity for B. burgdorferi sensu lato and 22.3% were seropositive for A. phagocytophilum. It indicates that these horses had been infected with the bacteria at some time and their immune system had produced antibodies to fight off the infection.
  • Seropositivity does not necessarily mean active infection but indicates a past or recent exposure to the organisms. Therefore, the direct impact of these infections on the horse health was not determined by this study.
  • The conclusion of the study is that Danish horses are commonly infected by B burgdorferi sensu lato and A. phagocytophilum. The research fills in a gap in our understanding of the prevalence of these bacteria in Danish horses, providing a foundation upon which further investigation into the implications of these findings can be carried out.

Cite This Article

APA
Hansen MG, Christoffersen M, Thuesen LR, Petersen MR, Bojesen AM. (2010). Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Danish horses. Acta Vet Scand, 52(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-52-3

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 1
Pages: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Hansen, Marie G B
  • Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Christoffersen, Mette
    Thuesen, Line R
      Petersen, Morten R
        Bojesen, Anders M

          MeSH Terms

          • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / immunology
          • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification
          • Animals
          • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
          • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology
          • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
          • Denmark
          • Ehrlichiosis / blood
          • Ehrlichiosis / microbiology
          • Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / blood
          • Horse Diseases / microbiology
          • Horses
          • Lyme Disease / blood
          • Lyme Disease / microbiology
          • Lyme Disease / veterinary
          • Seroepidemiologic Studies

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