Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs with neurological signs

• Published in: Veterinary record Vol. 160; no. 24; pp. 825 - 831
• Main Authors: Jäderlund, K. H., Egenvall, A., Bergström, K., Hedhammar, Å.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Limited 16-06-2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Anaplasma phagocytophilum - isolation & purification; Animals; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi Group - isolation & purification; Central Nervous System Diseases - diagnosis; Central Nervous System Diseases - epidemiology; Central Nervous System Diseases - microbiology; Central Nervous System Diseases - veterinary; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dogs; Ehrlichiosis - diagnosis; Ehrlichiosis - epidemiology; Ehrlichiosis - microbiology; Ehrlichiosis - veterinary; Female; Lyme Disease - epidemiology; Lyme Disease - microbiology; Lyme Disease - veterinary; Male; nervous system diseases; Seroepidemiologic Studies; seroprevalence
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.160.24.825

A retrospective cohort study was carried out to evaluate whether seropositivity for the tick-transmitted bacterial species Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and/or Anaplasma phagocytophilum was associated with one or more specific categories of nervous system disorders in dogs. A total of 248 dogs with nervous system disorders were serotested for these agents and categorised into six main diagnostic categories: degenerative diseases of the spine, epilepsy, inflammatory diseases, neoplasia, peripheral neuropathies, and other diseases. Multivariable analysis using logistic regression was used to model whether a dog was diagnosed as being in any of these categories. The independent variables included were sex, age, year of serological testing, and whether the animal tested positive for B burgdorferi sensu lato and/or A phagocytophilum. In one model, a statistically significant association was found between a positive titre for A phagocytophilum and the risk of a dog developing neoplastic disease. Although statistically significant, it was concluded that the association was not of clinical relevance.