title: Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs in Alabama, USA.
abstract: A random sample of private small-animal practices in Alabama submitted sera from dogs with known tick contact. A total of 579 samples from the three geographic regions of the state were collected (58% of the targeted sample size). Sera were screened for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi using an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test which had a sensitivity and specificity of greater than 90%. Anti-B burgdorferi titers of > or = 1:64 were considered to be positive, based on results from B. burgdorferi-inoculated dogs. Ten of the 579 samples (1.7%) were positive, and titers ranged from 1:64 to 1:512. Seropositive dogs were found throughbout the state, and there was no significant difference in seroprevalence by region (Mantel-Haenszel chi 2, P = 0.85). These results indicate that the seroprevalence for canine Lyme disease in Alabama is low and that use of the canine Lyme disease vaccine is not justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Swango
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Boyce
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines