Serological survey of canine borreliosis

Lyme disease or Borreliosis, a tick-borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, has been described recently in dogs. A total of 850 blood samples were obtained from dogs in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico. An indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) was used to detect antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease in human beings. The 16% (136) of these dogs had positive results. These findings suggest that exposition to this microorganism is common in dogs in this area and that this disease is of importance to veterinarians.