[Incidence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs in small animal practice in North Bavaria]

Abstract

With help of indirect immunofluorescent assay antibodies were detected to Borrelia burgdorferi, agent of Lyme borreliosis in 46 (35.5%) serum samples of 130 randomly selected dogs of a small animal practice in Northern Bavaria. A positive reaction of the indirect immunofluorescent assay was demonstrated in 15 cases in a serum dilution of 1:64, in 9 cases in a serum dilution of 1:128, in 5 cases in a serum dilution of 1:256, in 2 cases in a serum dilution of 1:512, in 3 cases in a serum dilution of 1:1024, in 2 cases in a serum dilution of 1:2048 and in 10 cases in a serum dilution of 1:4096 and higher. There was significant correlation between the symptoms pain of segments or muscles in dorsal region, between painful arthritis, between paralysis of hind legs or between chronic erythema ("hot spot") and the positive reaction of the immunofluorescent assay in the serum dilution of 1:256 ("borderline titre") and higher.