Borrelia burgdorferi infection in cats in the UK |
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| Authors: | C May† S D Carter A Barnes C McLean D Bennett† A Coutts† C K Grant‡ |
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| Institution: | Arthritis Research Group, Departments of Veterinary Pathology and Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX;*Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX;?Departments of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX;?Pacific Northwest Research Foundation, Department of Immunology and Retrovirus Research, Seattle, USA |
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| Abstract: | Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting techniques, cats from the north west of England and North Wales were tested for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Seropositivity to B burgdorferi in these cats was similar (4.8 per cent) to that found in dogs and horses in the UK from non-endemic areas. Cross-reactive antibodies to Leptospira interrogans serovars did not affect the cat B burgdorferi ELISA data. Clinical signs of Lyme disease were generally absent; lameness was rarely reported. As in other species, it must be considered that high levels of serum anti-borrelia antibodies are not diagnostic for clinical Lyme disease. |
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