BMD had a higher prevalence of anti-Bbsl, anti-L. copenhageni and anti-Ap antibodies than control dogs. Significantly higher antibody titers against L. canicola (p = 0.003), L. copenhageni (p = 0.005), L. grippothyphosa (p = 0.029) and L. vanderhoedoni (p = 0.035) were seen in BMD compared with control dogs, but the reason for this and potential clinical implications are not known.

Background An increased risk for glomerulonephritis and a higher prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato have been reported in Bernese mountain dogs (BMDs). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of laboratory abnormalities suggestive of kidney disease in clinically healthy BMDs compared to a control population and to investigate if there is a correlation with the occurrence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma (A.) spp. and with the occurrence of Dirofilaria (D.) immitis antigen. A total of 197 BMDs and 57 control dogs were included in the study. Laboratory evidence of kidney disease was defined as renal azotemia and/or proteinuria with a urine protein creatinine ration of more than 0.5 in an inactive urine sediment. A SNAP®4Dx® ELISA (IDEXX, Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME, USA) was used to detect antibodies to B. burgdorferi sensu lato, E. canis and Anaplasma spp. and antigen of D. immitis. Results Laboratory evidence of kidney disease was significantly more common in BMDs than in control dogs (17.8% versus 1.8%) (p = 0.005). The proportion of BMDs with anti-B. burgdorferi sensu latu antibodies and anti-A. phagocytophilum antibodies was significantly higher in BMDs (p <  0.001). However, an association between these findings could not be identified. Conclusion BMDs are more often affected by kidney disease and have a higher prevalence of antibodies to bacterial pathogens transmitted by Ixodes ticks than control dogs. However, a causal relationship between these two variables could not be established due to a lack of association between these two findings.

ZusammenfassungNierenerkrankungen sind häufige Erkrankungen und Todesursachen beim Hund. Insbesondere für Glomerulopathien und akute Nierenschädigungen können Infektionserreger ursächlich verantwortlich sein. Zu den Infektionen, die in Mittel- und Südeuropa häufig mit der Entstehung von Immunkomplex-Glomerulonephritiden assoziiert und in Deutschland als Reisekrankheiten von Bedeutung sind, gehören Leishmaniose, Dirofilariose und Ehrlichiose. Selten verursachen in Deutschland Anaplasmose, Hepatozoonose, Borreliose und eine durch kleine Babesien versursachte Babesiose Immunkomplex-Glomerulonephritiden. Leptospirose, canine infektiöse Hepatitis und eine durch große Babesien verursachte Babesiose können für akute Nierenschädigungen durch tubulointerstitielle Nephritiden verantwortlich sein. Eine weiterführende Diagnostik zur Identifikation potenziell auslösender Infektionen bei Nierenerkrankungen des Hundes ist daher wichtig für die Prognose und Therapie der Patienten.