Clinical and Diagnostic Features in Three Dogs Naturally Infected with Borrelia spp.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to present clinical and neurological signs, laboratory abnormalities, serologic and/or molecular findings in three dogs from the region of Brno in the Czech Republic. All dogs were naturally infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The evidence of borrelial infection was proved by serial blood sampling for IgM and IgG anti-borrelial antibodies or plasma PCR. The dogs manifested corresponding clinical signs and one or more of the following criteria were fulfilled: (1) 4-fold or greater increase or decrease in B. burgdorferi s. l. IgM or IgG antibodies serial titres in acute and convalescent stage of infection, (2) a shift from positive IgM to IgG antibodies titres, (3) decrease of IgM with concurrent increase of IgG antibodies in serial titres, (4) detection of borrelial DNA by PCR. Other possible tick-borne infections were excluded. All three dogs showed neurological signs (two of them meningoencephalomyelitis, one seizure connected with progressive renal disease). Their history, clinical signs, diagnostic procedures and treatment are described. Two of the dogs died and only one with meningoencephalomyelitis survived.Our results show that borrelial infection must be taken into consideration, not only in cases with febrile and orthopaedic signs but also in many other clinical syndromes.

Detection ofAnaplasma phagocytophilumandBorrelia burgdorferiSensu Lato in Dogs in the Czech Republic

“…Clinical syndromes together with PCR and serial serology indicate a very likely borrelia induced disease. In all three of our dog case studies (Schánilec et al 2010), the immune response and PCR findings indicated an early disseminated stage of a borrelial infection.…”

“…We also describe three cases of dogs naturally infected with borreliosis (Schánilec et al 2010). All presented cases showed clinical and diagnostic features that strongly indicated borrelial infection.…”

“…The third paper (Schánilec et al 2010) presents clinical and neurological signs, laboratory abnormalities, serologic and/or molecular findings in three dogs from the region of Brno in the Czech Republic. All dogs were naturally infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.…”

Cardiac manifestations of borreliosis in a dog: a case report

“…Previous studies claim that cardiac manifestations of borreliosis are uncommon in dogs (Nielsen et al, 2002). However, recent information (Schanilec et al, 2010) shows that the incidence of cardiac manifestations could be higher than expected. Studies in experimental animals (mainly rodents) showed that 100% of those infected with Borrelia sp.…”

“…It includes varying degrees of atrioventricular (AV) block. We have seen a positive dog with a 1 st degree AV block and prolonged QT interval that also suffered from neurological signs and had high levels of borrelial antibodies, which suggest that the pathogen was involved in the arrhythmia (Schanilec et al, 2010). In humans, complete AV block has been reported in as much as 80% of cases (Levy and Durray, 1988;Gasser et al, 1999;Bateman and Sigal, 2000;Lo et al, 2003;Nalmas et al, 2007).…”