Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lyme disease antibodies in dogs rose fast in NW North Carolina
By Pretsch, Peyton K et al.·Published in Emerging infectious diseases·2024·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rapid Increase in Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies among Dogs, Northwestern North Carolina, USA, 2017-2021.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that the number of dogs testing positive for Lyme disease in northwestern North Carolina increased significantly from 2017 to 2021. In 2017, only 2.2% of dogs tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, but by 2021, that number rose to 11.2%. This suggests that more dogs are being exposed to ticks carrying the disease. Pet owners in this area should be aware of the rising risk and consider discussing Lyme disease prevention, such as tick control and vaccination, with their veterinarian.
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Abstract
We evaluated spatial-temporal risk for Lyme disease in northwestern North Carolina, USA, by using individual-level canine Borrelia burgdorferi seroprevalence data collected during 2017-2021 at routine veterinary screenings for tickborne diseases. Seroprevalence in dogs increased from 2.2% (47/2,130) in 2017 to 11.2% (339/3,033) in 2021. The percentage of incident seropositivity increased from 2.1% (45/2,130) in 2017 to 7.6% (231/3,033) in 2021. Exploratory geographic analyses found canine seroprevalence shifted from clustered (2017, Moran's I = 0.30) to dispersed (2021, Moran's I = -0.20). Elevation, slope, aspect, and forest land cover density were associated with canine seroprevalence within various household buffer regions in 2017. Slope was associated with seroprevalence at the household level in 2021. Results support the use of individual-level canine seroprevalence data for monitoring human risk for Lyme disease. Establishing sentinel veterinary clinics within Lyme disease-emergent communities might promote prevention and control efforts and provide opportunities for educational and behavioral interventions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39320158/