Hultin Jäderlund, Karin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH)
Abstract
The tick-borne bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum have been suspected to cause neurological signs in dogs. Diagnosis often has been made based on positive antibody titers in serum of dogs with neurological signs, but a high seroprevalence in dogs in at-risk populations makes diagnosis difficult.To determine if the neurological signs in dogs examined were caused by any of these bacteria.Fifty-four dogs presented to a board-certified neurologist.Prospective study. We divided dogs into 2 groups: those with inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and those with neurological signs from other diseases. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from all dogs were analyzed.Dogs with inflammatory CNS diseases showed no serum antibodies against any of the agents. Among dogs with neurological signs from other diseases, 10.3% had serum antibodies for B. burgdorferi sl and 20.5% for A. phagocytophilum. All blood samples analyzed for bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and all CSF analyzed for antibodies and bacterial DNA for the 2 agents were negative.Based on this study, these bacteria are unlikely causes of neurologic disease in dogs and the presence of serum antibodies alone does not document or establish a definitive diagnosis of CNS disease caused by these organisms. Dogs that have neurologic disease and corresponding serum antibodies against these agents should have additional tests performed to assess for other potential etiologies of the signs.
Keywords
Borreliosis; Granulocytic anaplasmosis; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Serology
Published in
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
2009, volume: 23, number: 3, pages: 669-672
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
SLU Authors
Bergström, Karin
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Egenvall, Agneta
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Hedhammar, Åke
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
UKÄ Subject classification
Veterinary Science
Clinical Science
Animal and Dairy Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0313.x
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/49951