ANTIBODIES AGAINST BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI I N SERUM AND IN THE EYE IN HORSES AND OCCURRENCE OF EQUINE RECURRENT UVEITIS (ERU)

In Germany very little is known about antibody titers against Borrelia burgdorferi in the horse. In the USA there exist some studies on the titer levels and symptoms due to borrelia infections. Beside lameness, fever, polyarthritis, pneumonia and dullness there is a study showing a connection between panuveitis and Borrelia infection in the horse. In human medicine the infection with Borrelia burgdorferi becomes more and more important. Uveitis and other eye diseases due to Borrelia bu rgdorferi are prooved and documented. The goal of this study was to fi nd a connection between antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi and cases o f equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). The antibody titer against Borrelia burgdorferi was determined by IFT in 153 horses with no sign of diseas e of the eye and in 79 horses with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). 48% of all horses were found to be positive (titer 1:64 or higher). In ad dition 22 sera were tested in western-blot for antibody titers. Then w as no significant correlation between signs of ERU and increased antib ody titers against Borrelia burgdorferi (p > 0.05). No clinical signs were seen in horses with elevated titers. No correlation between the a ge of the horses and the antibody level could be found. There was a co nnection between the antibody titer and the month of examination (p < 0.05). Highest titer levels were seen in May and November. This is bot h one month later than the activity of the transmitting ticks (I. rici nus).