Sero-prevalence of granulocytic Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Swedish dogs 1991-94

Scand J Infect Dis. 2000;32(1):19-25. doi: 10.1080/00365540050164164.

Abstract

In Sweden, 2 tick-borne zoonotic diseases, granulocytic ehrlichiosis and borreliosis, are frequently diagnosed in dogs, using serological assays. The aims of this study were to determine the sero-prevalences of antibodies to Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato during 1991-94 in dogs, not clinically suspected to be infected with either of the 2 agents. Samples (n = 611) were selected from a serum bank using a systematic sampling strategy, stratified across the 4-y period. The stored sera had originally been submitted in order to verify or rule out infection with Sarcoptes scabiei. The overall sero-prevalence for Ehrlichia spp. was 17.7% and for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato 3.9% (n = 588). Only a few dogs in the northern part of Sweden were sero-positive for Ehrlichia spp. and none were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. An increased sero-prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. was seen during the years studied. The sero-prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. varied with season. Sero-positivity to both agents increased with age. Both diseases are considered zoonotic, and the increase in sero-prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. over the years may reflect the degree of infection in ticks and may have implications for human health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / immunology*
  • Dog Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Dog Diseases / immunology
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology
  • Dogs
  • Ehrlichia / immunology*
  • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
  • Ehrlichiosis / immunology
  • Ehrlichiosis / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Seasons
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / immunology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial