Abstract | BACKGROUND: 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. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the neurological signs in dogs examined were caused by any of these bacteria. ANIMALS: Fifty-four dogs presented to a board-certified neurologist. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: 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.
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Authors | K H Jäderlund, K Bergström, A Egenvall, A Hedhammar |
Journal | Journal of veterinary internal medicine
(J Vet Intern Med)
2009 May-Jun
Vol. 23
Issue 3
Pg. 669-72
ISSN: 0891-6640 [Print] United States |
PMID | 19422467
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Anaplasmosis
(cerebrospinal fluid, diagnosis)
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial
(cerebrospinal fluid)
- Borrelia burgdorferi Group
- Central Nervous System Diseases
(cerebrospinal fluid, diagnosis, microbiology, veterinary)
- Dog Diseases
(diagnosis, microbiology)
- Dogs
- Female
- Lyme Disease
(cerebrospinal fluid, immunology, veterinary)
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
(veterinary)
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