[The occurrence of antibodies to Borrelia in dogs]

Using the method of indirect hemagglutination and an antigenic extract of Borrelia recurrentis the occurrence of antibodies to borrelias was investigated in 169 sera of dogs from two groups with different exposure to vectors. A significant difference in the serum positivity of dogs coming to Prague outpatient veterinary wards (53.7%) and of dogs coming from laboratory packs (20.9%) confirms the participation of dogs in the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis, indicates the influence of the environment with free living vectors and the frequency of host exposure also in the town agglomeration. The highest occurrence of positivity in summer months--July-August) corresponds to the incidence of vectors, the great infestation of which along with the determined serological positivity is a precondition of the clinical manifestation of dog diseases in the CSSR territory.