BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI INFECTION IN CATS IN THE UK

Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blottin g techniques, cats from the north west of England and North Wales were tested for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Seropositivity to B bu rgdorferi in these cats was similar (4.8 per cent) to that found in do gs and horses in the UK from non-endemic areas. Cross-reactive antibod ies to Leptospira interrogans serovars did not affect the cat B burgdo rferi ELISA data. Clinical signs of Lyme disease were generally absent ; lameness was rarely reported. As in other species, it must be consid ered that high levels of serum anti-borrelia antibodies are not diagno stic for clinical Lyme disease.