Seroprevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in a population of horses in central Texas

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1992 Oct 1;201(7):1030-4.

Abstract

Four hundred sixty-nine serum samples were obtained from horses admitted to the internal medicine service of the Texas Veterinary Medical Center between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 1990. Serum samples were tested by ELISA for antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi. Of these 469 samples, 1 (0.2%) was repeatedly seropositive for the organism by ELISA. Confirmatory testing by protein immunoblot was negative. The observed seroprevalence was 0%; the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval was 0.6%. These findings indicate the evidence of infection with B burgdorferi is presently uncommon in horses in central Texas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Horses
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prevalence
  • Texas / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial