Abstract
BackgroundLyme disease is commonly diagnosed in humans in Latvia, but up to date no studies have been performed to investigate its prevalence in dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate if seroprevalence against B. burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi s.l.) and co-expression of antibodies against B.burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum is higher in dogs with clinical suspicion of tick-borne diseases compared to healthy dogs.FindingsVenous blood was taken from healthy dogs (n=441) and dogs suspected to have borreliosis and/ or canine granulocytic anaplasmosis (n=29). The presence of antibodies was detected with SNAP 4Dx test (IDEXX, Westbrook, Maine, USA). The seroprevalence against B. burgdorferi s.l. in healthy dogs was 2.49% (11/441) and 36% (4/11) of seropositive dogs had antibodies against both of investigated bacteria. None of the dogs in sick dog group had detectable antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l.ConclusionsWe conclude that seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi s.l. in dogs in Latvia is low and that dogs with suspicion of tick-borne disease do not have higher B. burgdorferi s.l. seroprevalence than healthy dogs. Dogs that express antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. frequently co-express antibodies against A. phagocytophilum.
Highlights
Lyme disease is commonly diagnosed in humans in Latvia, but up to date no studies have been performed to investigate its prevalence in dogs
We conclude that seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi s.l. in dogs in Latvia is low and that dogs with suspicion of tick-borne disease do not have higher B. burgdorferi s.l. seroprevalence than healthy dogs
Dogs that express antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. frequently co-express antibodies against A. phagocytophilum
Summary
We conclude that seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi s.l. in dogs in Latvia is low and that dogs with suspicion of tick-borne disease do not have higher B. burgdorferi s.l. seroprevalence than healthy dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate if seroprevalence against B. burgdorferi s.l. and co-expression of antibodies against B.burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum is higher in dogs with clinical suspicion of tick-borne diseases compared to clinicaly healthy dogs. In this study we detected only B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum antibody co-expression, the possibility of other diseases that are not typical for this geographical location (e.g. ehrlichiosis) still should be kept in mind since pathogens can adapt to be transmitted by a new tick species or ticks can widen their area of habitat or can be “imported” in the country by travelling animals or migrating birds (Cieniuch et al, [17]; Skotarczak et al, [18]; Beall, et al, [5]; Rand et al, [19]). We conclude that seroprevalence against B. burgdorferi s.l. in dogs in Latvia is low, but seropositive dogs frequently co-express antibodies against A. phagocytophilum.
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