PSII-1 - Borrelia burgdorferi Seroprevalence in horses

Abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi infection, also commonly called Lyme disease, has been attributed as the causative factor for many symptoms in animals and humans, including fever, joint pain, muscle pain, stiffness, rash, and neck pain. Borrelia burgdorferi seroprevalence in horses in southwest Virginia was last evaluated in 2003-2004. Since other areas have seen increased seroprevalence rates, the hypothesis was that seroprevalence rates would have increased since 2003-2004. In the current study, blood samples were drawn from 131 horses and evaluated using the Cornell Lyme Disease multiplex test. The study horses included 66 geldings and 65 mares with ages from 4 to 29 years. The results showed that 48.8% (64 horses) were positive for at least one outer surface protein (Osp). This is a 15 percentage point increase from the last data in this area. The most common outer surface protein was OspF (56 horses). In addition, 17 horses were positive for OspC and 3 horses were positive for OspA. This increase in positivity demonstrates the importance of further research on how Borrelia burgdorferi affects horses.