Volume: 2, 2023
2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.A023
Published online: 19 April 2023
ICDSUPL, 2, A023 (2023)
Lyme disease in Bernese Mountain Dogs
Maria Pisarek1*
1 Department of Epizoology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: maria.pisarek@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Lyme disease is a multi-organ disease caused by an increased immune response of the organism to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. These bacteria are transmitted by ticks. Despite the development of numerous monitoring and prevention programmes, the disease is still the most commonly diagnosed tick-borne infection in humans and animals in the Northern Hemisphere. The disease is most often diagnosed in the countries of Central and Northern Europe, and less often in its southern part. The infections occur mainly in the period from spring to autumn, i.e. in the season of tick activity. This does not mean, however, that the clinical symptoms of the disease must develop during this time. The time between the tick bite causing infection and the development of symptoms may be long. Annually, there are over 65,000 cases of Lyme disease in humans in Europe. Over the past decades, there has been an increasing number of patients with this disease, as well as the occurrence of cases in areas previously considered free of Lyme borreliosis. Even slight increases in the ambient temperature allow ticks to colonize areas located higher above sea level, into which Lyme disease is introduced along with arachnids. Another aspect is the problem of Lyme disease in Bernese Mountain Dogs. Our own observations and reports indicate that representatives of this breed often test positive for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferii in rapid diagnostic tests without showing any clinical symptoms of the disease. Quantitative determination of the immunoglobulin level for spirochetes has indicated that Bernese Mountain Dogs may have an increased susceptibility to Borrelia infections.
How to cite
M. Pisarek, 2023. Lyme disease in Bernese Mountain Dogs. In: 2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.A023