title: Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Horses Presented for Coggins Testing in Southwest Virginia and Change in Positive Test Results Approximately 1 Year Later.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lyme disease can affect people, dogs, and horses, but it remains poorly understood, especially in the horse. Determining the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in horses in different geographic areas will enable better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease, thus improving diagnosis and treatment of affected animals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi in horses in southwest Virginia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses presented for routine Coggins testing from January 2013 to January 2014 had additional blood drawn for Lyme Multiplex Assay testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 492 samples collected, 250 samples were analyzed using the Lyme Multiplex Assay. Of the 83 horses that had positive test results to at least 1 outer surface protein (Osp), 63 were available for follow-up testing 5-17 months later (June 2014).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three percent of horses had positive results for antibodies to at least 1 Osp. Horses with a positive outer surface protein F (OspF) result were older (14.5 ± 0.79) than horses with a negative OspF result (11.6 ± 0.53). Of the horses available for follow-up testing, 63% had the same result as that of the initial test. There was no difference in test result between initial and follow-up testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Horses seropositive to B. burgdorferi are common in Virginia, and older horses are more likely to have a positive test result for OspF than younger horses. Follow-up testing indicated that the majority of horses that were positive on initial testing did not have a different test result 5-17 months later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pleasant
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Witonsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Reeder
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Study Design and Statistical Analysis, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Werre
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins
keywords: Lyme; Multiplex; Tick