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Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs with neurological signs
Author(s) -
Jäderlund K. H.,
Egenvall A.,
Bergström K.,
Hedhammar Å.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.160.24.825
Subject(s) - anaplasma phagocytophilum , borrelia burgdorferi , sensu , seroprevalence , neuroborreliosis , serology , anaplasma , biology , immunology , tick , medicine , virology , antibody , zoology , genus
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.