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Equine veterinary journal2025; 58(2); 380-389; doi: 10.1111/evj.70123

Synovial chemokine and cytokine profiles in horses with and without systemic Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

Abstract: Lyme arthritis, a well-documented subtype of arthritis in humans and dogs, is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and spread primarily through ticks (Ixodes spp.). While Lyme disease in horses is known to cause a variety of clinical signs, its involvement in the development of equine arthritis is controversial. As climate change enables tick populations to expand, more horses could be exposed to B. burgdorferi; therefore, a greater understanding of how Lyme disease affects joints is critical to preserving soundness. Objective: To determine if systemic, naturally occurring Lyme disease had a discernible effect on joint inflammatory markers in horses presenting with a variety of joint pathologies. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Synovial fluid samples were collected at the start of routine joint injection or immediately prior to surgery and analysed for chemokine and cytokine levels. Serum samples from each horse were tested for outer surface protein (OSP) markers via Lyme Multiplex. Results: Six of twenty-five enrolled horses (24%) tested positive for at least one Lyme outer surface protein marker (OSP A 0/6; OSP C 2/6; OSP F 6/6; mean age 11.17 ± 6.31 years), and three more horses had an equivocal result (OSP A 0/3; OSP C 1/3; OSP F 3/3; mean age 11.67 ± 2.62 years). While most synovial inflammatory markers showed no statistical difference between systemic, serologic Lyme infection status and presumed arthritic joints (p = 0.1-0.7) or trauma-associated joints (p = 0.4-0.9), we observed a noteworthy negative association between CCL2 synovial fluid levels and systemic Lyme status (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Sample size was a primary limitation. Conclusions: The negative association observed between CCL2 synovial fluid levels and systemic Lyme status was also present in arthritic joints of horses with systemic B. burgdorferi infection. Notably, this contrasts with past reports of increased synovial fluid CCL2 levels associated with Lyme arthritis in other species.
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Publication Date: 2025-11-26 PubMed ID: 41297916DOI: 10.1111/evj.70123Google 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.

Overview

  • This study investigated whether systemic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, affects inflammatory markers in the joints of horses with various joint problems.
  • Researchers compared chemokine and cytokine profiles in the synovial fluid of horses with and without systemic Lyme infection and found a distinct negative association between a specific chemokine (CCL2) and Lyme disease status.

Background

  • Lyme arthritis is a subtype of arthritis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, predominantly studied in humans and dogs.
  • In horses, Lyme disease can cause multiple symptoms, but its role in equine arthritis is unclear and controversial.
  • Climate change is expanding tick populations, increasing the risk of B. burgdorferi exposure in horses.
  • Understanding the joint effects of Lyme disease in horses is essential for maintaining their health and soundness.

Objectives

  • The main goal was to determine if systemic, naturally occurring Lyme disease influences joint inflammation by analyzing inflammatory markers in the synovial fluid of horses presenting with different joint conditions.

Methods

  • A cross-sectional study design was used.
  • Synovial fluid was collected from horses during routine joint injection or before surgery to measure chemokine and cytokine levels.
  • Blood serum of each horse was tested for Lyme disease markers targeting outer surface proteins (OSPs) using the Lyme Multiplex assay.
  • Twenty-five horses were enrolled in the study.
  • Lyme infection status was categorized based on the presence of OSP markers in serum (OSP A, OSP C, OSP F).

Results

  • Six of 25 horses (24%) tested positive for at least one OSP marker; three more horses had equivocal results.
  • Distribution of OSP positivity:
    • OSP A: none positive
    • OSP C: some positivity observed
    • OSP F: universally present in positives and equivocal horses
  • Most synovial inflammatory markers showed no statistically significant difference between Lyme-positive and Lyme-negative horses, whether joints were arthritic or trauma-associated.
  • A significant negative association was found between synovial fluid levels of CCL2 (a chemokine involved in immune cell recruitment) and systemic Lyme infection (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

  • The sample size of the study was a limiting factor affecting the power to detect differences.
  • Contrary to findings in other species, horses with systemic Lyme infection showed lower levels of CCL2 in synovial fluid rather than the increases reported in Lyme arthritis of humans and dogs.
  • This suggests a potentially different inflammatory or immune response profile to B. burgdorferi infection within equine joints compared to other animals.
  • Findings highlight the need for further research with larger sample sizes to better understand Lyme disease’s impact on equine joint health.

Cite This Article

APA
Clark KF, Lemcke RA, Gasiorowski JC, Wagner B. (2025). Synovial chemokine and cytokine profiles in horses with and without systemic Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Equine Vet J, 58(2), 380-389. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.70123

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 2
Pages: 380-389

Researcher Affiliations

Clark, Kyle F
  • Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, Ringoes, New Jersey, USA.
Lemcke, Rachel A
  • Amwell Data Services LLC, Ringoes, New Jersey, USA.
Gasiorowski, Janik C
  • Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, Ringoes, New Jersey, USA.
Wagner, Bettina
  • Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary
  • Lyme Disease / metabolism
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism
  • Synovial Fluid / chemistry
  • Borrelia burgdorferi
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Female
  • Male

Grant Funding

  • American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians

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