Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Maternal antibodies to Lyme and anaplasmosis in US puppies
By Stasiak, Karen L et al.·Published in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology·2022·Zoetis, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Serological survey for maternal antibodies to Borreliella burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs from endemic and non-endemic regions of the United States.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of young dogs, aged 6 to 24 weeks, were tested for antibodies against Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, both tick-borne illnesses. The study found that 12.5% of the dogs from areas where Lyme disease is common had maternal antibodies from their mothers, which can affect how vets interpret test results and decide on vaccinations. As these maternal antibodies decrease over time, it's crucial for pet owners to understand their dog's antibody status to ensure proper care and vaccination timing.
People also search for: puppy Lyme disease symptoms · dog vaccination timing for Lyme disease · anaplasmosis in young dogs
Abstract
In North America, the tick-borne pathogens Borreliella burgdorferi (Lyme disease; LD) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis) are a significant health threat to dogs. Little is known regarding the seroprevalence of maternal antibodies (Abs) to these pathogens in young dogs. The analysis of maternal antibody (Ab) profiles is important as it could bear on the interpretation of currently available diagnostic assays and the potential for vaccine interference in pups. In this pilot study, sera from 32 client-owned dogs (6-24 weeks of age; 3 serum samples per dog) from four veterinary hospitals in the United States were screened for IgG against B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum using whole cell lysate immunoblots and recombinant protein-based ELISAs. As a control, the sera were also screened for Abs to canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus using a commercially available colorimetric assay. Maternally derived Abs against B. burgdorferi including the diagnostic antigen VlsE were detected in 2 of the 32 dogs, accounting for 12.5 % of dogs from LD endemic regions, and as expected, the Ab levels declined over time. Differentiating between maternal Ab and infection-induced Ab is of importance in interpreting serological tests for tick-borne diseases in young dogs and in making decisions regarding treatment and timing of vaccination.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35940078/