1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
2Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2024 Sep 6;262(11):1476-1484. doi: 10.2460/javma.24.05.0312. Print 2024 Nov 1.
Evaluate the incidence of Borrelia burgdorferi in cases of equine nuchal bursitis (NB) and investigate the relationship between elevated serum outer surface protein A (OspA) antibodies and the molecular identification of B burgdorferi in bursal tissue or synovial fluid. Additionally, describe clinical cases and compare the histologic changes in NB with and without detection of B burgdorferi.
This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study (2013 to 2022). Medical records from horses with a diagnosis of NB and B burgdorferi PCR testing on NB tissue or synovial fluid were reviewed. The study population included 11 horses with a postmortem diagnosis of NB, 19 horses from the northeastern US with an antemortem diagnosis of B burgdorferi PCR-positive NB, and 15 healthy controls without evidence of NB and unvaccinated for B burgdorferi. Where serum was available, Lyme multiplex assay results were compared with controls and ELISAs targeting individual B burgdorferi antigens were performed. Histologic findings in nuchal bursa tissue were compared between NB cases with and without B burgdorferi PCR detection.
Serum OspA antibody values in B burgdorferi-positive NB cases (n = 13) were significantly elevated (P < .001) compared to controls (15), and OspA was the predominant antigen detected by ELISA (8). Histopathology did not vary between NB cases with (n = 9) and without (6) B burgdorferi PCR detection.
The presence of B burgdorferi in the nuchal bursa of horses is associated with increased serum OspA antibodies.
The role of B burgdorferi in equine NB may be underestimated, and targeted therapy requires investigation.
评估马肩颈囊炎（NB）病例中伯氏疏螺旋体的发生率，并研究囊内组织或滑液中高血清外表面蛋白 A（OspA）抗体与 B burgdorferi 分子鉴定之间的关系。此外，描述临床病例并比较 NB 中有无 B burgdorferi 检测的组织学变化。
这是一项回顾性多中心队列研究（2013 年至 2022 年）。对诊断为 NB 且 NB 组织或滑液进行 B burgdorferi PCR 检测的马匹的病历进行了回顾。研究人群包括 11 匹死后诊断为 NB 的马匹、19 匹来自美国东北部生前诊断为 B burgdorferi PCR 阳性 NB 的马匹和 15 匹无 NB 证据且未接种 B burgdorferi 的健康对照。在有血清的情况下，比较莱姆病多重检测结果与对照，并进行针对单个 B burgdorferi 抗原的 ELISA 检测。比较有和无 B burgdorferi PCR 检测的 NB 病例的颈囊组织学发现。
B burgdorferi 阳性 NB 病例（n = 13）的血清 OspA 抗体值明显升高（P <.001）与对照组（15）相比，ELISA 检测到的主要抗原是 OspA（8）。有（n = 9）和无（6）B burgdorferi PCR 检测的 NB 病例的组织病理学无差异。
马颈囊内存在 B burgdorferi 与血清 OspA 抗体升高有关。
B burgdorferi 在马 NB 中的作用可能被低估，需要进行靶向治疗的研究。
