ANTIBODIES IGG TO BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI IN DOGS FROM KOSICE REGION

An ELISA investigation showed that 26.9% of dogs in Kosice region were positive for anti-borrelia IgG antibodies. A significantly higher ser oprevalence was detected only in hunting dogs (40.0 %) compared with s ervice dogs (11.8%; p < 0.05). An analysis of seroprevalence by age sh owed a significant difference only between dogs in the categories 1-3 years (37.8%), and under 1 year of age (8.3%; p < 0.05). In other age groups no significant differences in seroprevalence were observed. No significant difference in seroprevalence was detected between sex eith er. A high correlation was determined to exist between the seroprevale nce and the number of engorged ticks (R = 0.8) and the frequency of th e exposure of dogs to the tick-infested wooded areas with the focal oc currence of boreliae (R = 1). The analysis of results suggests that se roprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in dogs of the Kosice region is not n egligible. The breed, age and sex do not influence the seroprevalence of the disease. The decisive role is, however, played by the time of t he exposure of dogs to the environment infested by Borrelia-contamined ticks.