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. 2021 Feb 4;10(2):164.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens10020164.

Hematological Features in Sheep with IgG and IgM Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

Labrini V Athanasiou  1 , Victoria M Spanou  1 , Eleni G Katsogiannou  1 , Panagiotis D Katsoulos  2
Affiliations

Hematological Features in Sheep with IgG and IgM Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

Labrini V Athanasiou et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Exposure of sheep to Borreliaburgdorferi sensulato (s.I.) complex, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB), has been reported in tick-abundant areas worldwide, while no data have been reported in Greece. The aim of the study was to identify the hematological alterations in sheep with seropositivity against Borrelia burgdorferi (s.I.). Blood samples were obtained from 318 tick infested sheep for blood analysis and serological determination of IgG and IgM antibodies against B. burgdorferi by indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay after exclusion of endo-ectoparasites and other tick-borne infections. A total number of 162 sheep met the inclusion criteria, allocated in four groups based on the presence or absence of IgG and/or IgM; sheep found negative for IgM and IgG (Group A), positive for IgM (Group B), positive for both IgM and IgG (Group C) and positive for IgG (Group D). Anemia, thrombocytopenia and normal or decreased leukocyte count, mainly due to lymphopenia were the main hematological features observed in seropositive sheep. The presence of these features raises the suspicion of Borrelia infection in tick infested sheep. The seropositivity of 23.58% in sheep raises concerns of Borrelia circulation, especially in rural areas and potential risk of transmission to humans.

Keywords: Borrelia; Greece; anemia; hematology; serology; sheep; thrombocytopenia; tick-borne; zoonotic disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Picture of indirect immunofluorescence assay of serum sample from sheep. (A) Positive antibody reaction appears as bright sharp stained spirochetes. Sheep present IgG titer at 1:64 and (B) negative antibody reaction. Slides were observed using Nikon Eclipse E-400 fluorescence microscope, objective ×40.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Each graph bar represents the average Packed Cell Volume (PCV) value of sheep in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b, c above each graph bar, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Each graph bar represents the average total white blood cells (WBC) (blue), neutrophils (NEU) (green), lymphocytes (LYMPH) (red) and eosinophils (EOS) (purple) counts in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b above each graph bar of the same color, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Each graph bar represents the average platelet (PLT) count value of sheep in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b, c, d above each graph bar, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Each percentage stacked column represents the percentages of anemic (blue) and non-anemic (red) sheep in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b, c above each column, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Each percentage stacked column represents the percentages of thrombocytopenic (blue) and non-thrombocytopenic (red) sheep in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b, c above each column, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Each percentage stacked column represents the percentages of leukopenic (blue) and non-leukopenic (red) sheep in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b above each column, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Each percentage stacked column represents the percentages of neutropenic (blue) and non-neutropenic (red) in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b, c above each column, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Each percentage stacked column represents the percentages of lymphopenic (blue) and non-lymphopenic (red) sheep in group A (IgM−/IgG−), group B (IgM+/IgG−), group C (IgM+/IgG+) and group D (IgM−/IgG+). Different lowercase letters a, b above each column, are indicative of significant difference between groups.
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