Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urine protein and Lyme infection in healthy Bernese Mountain dogs
By Gerber, Bernhard et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2009·Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association of urine protein excretion and infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Bernese Mountain dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Bernese Mountain dogs was tested for protein in their urine to see if it was linked to a common infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is known to affect their kidneys. The study found that while a significant number of these dogs had antibodies against the bacteria, there was no clear connection between the presence of these antibodies and early signs of kidney disease, such as proteinuria (excess protein in urine). This means that having these antibodies doesn't necessarily indicate kidney problems in Bernese Mountain dogs.
People also search for: Bernese Mountain dog kidney disease · protein in dog urine · Borrelia burgdorferi infection in dogs
Abstract
Bernese Mountain dogs (BMDs) are prone to develop a familial glomerulonephropathy and a pathogenic role of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in this disease has been suspected. Glomerular disease in many affected dogs is clinically inapparent and proteinuria is found incidentally. In this study, urine protein excretion was evaluated in 122 clinically healthy BMDs and 55 controls. The seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi in BMDs was 57%, compared to 16% in controls. There were no significant differences in the occurrence of positive dipstick results, microalbuminuria, urine protein-to-urine creatinine ratio or abnormal urine protein pattern (determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate agarose gel electrophoresis) between BMDs and controls and BMDs with and without antibodies against B. burgdorferi. It was concluded that antibodies against B. burgdorferi are not associated with proteinuria as an early sign of renal disease in BMDs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18930416/