Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs in North Carolina.
An indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in sera from 600 dogs in 1983 and 402 dogs in 1985. In 1983, the overall prevalence rate of dogs with B burgdorferi titers greater than or equal to 1:64 was 3.6%, whereas in 1985, the prevalence rate was 2.7%. An unexplainable higher seroprevalence was detected in 1 group of dogs tested in 1983. These dogs were from the southern coastal plains of North Carolina. In the dogs tested in 1985, this regional difference in sero-prevalence was not noticed. Statistical differences were not noticed (P greater than 0.05) between dogs from 2 sources or when gender was considered. Seemingly, the prevalence of anti-B burgdorferi antibodies in dogs in North Carolina was low.
Greene
R T
RT
Department of Companion Animals and Special Species Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
Levine
J F
JF
Breitschwerdt
E B
EB
Berkhoff
H A
HA
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001898:Borrelia / Q000276:immunology*; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial