Diagnosis of Lyme disease in two cows by the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA

Two cows from different herds in a district of Switzerland known to harbour ixodid ticks had erythematous lesions on the hairless skin of the udder, w ere in poor general condition with a poor appetite and decreased milk produ ction, and had a stiff gait and swollen joints. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stritu DNA was detected in samples of synovial fluid and milk from one of t he cows and Borrelia afzelii DNA was detected in synovial fluid from the ot her by means of a real-time PCR.