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