Lyme Disease in Horses
challenges
seroprevalence studies
sparse literature
extrapolated from human/dog medicine
ID tests are invasive and costly
diagnosis is rarely definitive
high in endemic regions
approx. 60% in MN
majority of infections do not progress to clinical dz
geographic range is increasing
clinical signs
equine vet reported
stiffness/lameness
no matter what, Lyme will be low on differential
behavioral changes
uncommon signs
fever
neck/back pain
cardiac arrhythmia
nephritis?
documented
cutaneous pseudolymphoma
papular/nodular dermatitis
uveitis
neuroborreliosis
ataxia
cranial nerve dficits
mm atrophy
behavior changes
dysphagia
laryngela paralysis
seizures
+/- synovial effusion
treatment
antimicrobial therapy
diagnosis
Osp A
Osp C
Osp F
can assist in diagnosis
not well supported due to inability to reproduce dz experimentally
tetracycline abx
UV oxytetracycline
doxycycline pobid
minocycline pobid
ocular or CNS infection
usually 4 weeks
future directions
experimental model needed
true range of clinical signs needed
improved tests needed
determine levels of vaccine-induced Abs that confer protection against infection/dz
most confirmed on necropsy