Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rottweiler with Lyme disease lameness and antibody study of her pups
By Hatke, A L et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2020·Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Antibody profiling of a Borreliella burgdorferi (Lyme disease) C6 antibody positive, symptomatic Rottweiler and her pups.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A Rottweiler was brought in for limping 12 days before giving birth, and tests showed she had Lyme disease caused by a tick-borne infection. She was treated with amoxicillin, and after 11 days, she delivered nine healthy puppies. The mother had strong antibodies against the disease, which helped protect her and her pups, although the pups' antibody levels dropped quickly after birth. A vaccine given to the mother after the puppies were born boosted her immune response, which could help in future cases.
People also search for: Rottweiler limping Lyme disease treatment · puppy Lyme disease symptoms · Lyme disease vaccine for dogs
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is a tick-transmitted disease caused by Borreliella burgdorferi (Bb). Temporal studies of maternal antibody (Ab) profiles in Bb infected pregnant dogs and their pups have not been conducted. In this study, Ab profiles of a client-owned Bb C6 Ab positive Rottweiler and her nine pups were assessed. The dam presented with lameness 12 days prior to parturition and was C6 Ab positive with a Quant C6 Ab concentration of 237U/mL. Treatment with amoxicillin was initiated and 11 days later nine pups were delivered. Screening of the sera from the dam and pups against Bb cell lysates and a panel of antigens revealed similar immunoreactivity profiles. While antigen-specific IgG and IgM reactivity persisted in the dam for at least 7 months, a rapid decline in IgG specific for BBA36, BBK53, BB0238, BBA73 and outer surface protein (Osp) E in the pups occurred between days 29 and 52 post-parturition. In contrast, Ab specific for DbpA and the diagnostic antigens VlsE (C6) and OspF, remained elevated in the pups. Sera from the dam displayed potent complement-dependent bactericidal activity against Bb. Sera from the pups was also bactericidal but primarily through a complement-independent mechanism. Lastly, single dose vaccination of the dam at day 51 post-parturition with a LD subunit vaccine consisting of OspA and an OspC chimeritope triggered a broad anti-OspC Ab response indicative of an anamnestic response. Although this study focused on a single case, these findings add to our knowledge of maternal Ab profiles and will aid the interpretation of serological assays in pups delivered by a Bb C6 Ab positive dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32792093/