A Better Lyme Disease Test Developed at Cornell University

Researchers at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center of Cornell University have developed a new test to better diagnose Lyme Disease in dogs.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection of dogs and humans, caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, and spread by ticks. According to data collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 30,000 humans were diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2009, a prevalence that is increasing in the US. The vast majority (95%) of Lyme Disease cases occurred in just 12 states, mostly in the Northeast. Although similar information is not available for dogs, we know that many dogs are exposed to the infection, and that the geographic prevalence is similar to that seen in humans.

Typical signs of Lyme Disease in dogs are lameness, joint pain and swelling, and fever. A smaller proportion of dogs develop Lyme nephritis, a serious kidney condition characterized by urinary protein loss and progressing to kidney failure. These disease signs are not specific for Lyme disease and can occur in myriad other conditions. Accurate diagnosis, therefore, is paramount. Unfortunately, traditional tests for Lyme disease have important shortcomings. These are largely overcome by the newly developed Lyme Disease Multiplex Test. The blood test measures antibodies produced by the dog in response to 3 parts of the Borrelia bacteria. Advantages of the Multiplex test over other tests include:

• The ability to distinguish natural infection from antibodies that occur in response to vaccination.
• Sensitivity to detect early infection. The Lyme Multiplex Test can detect antibodies within 2-3 weeks following infection, whereas other tests only detect antibodies 4-6 weeks post-infection.
• The ability to distinguish recent from chronic infection.

The Multiplex Test is now available at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists, and a growing number of veterinary practices. Additional information can be found here.

Marnin A. Forman DVM, DACVIM
Staff Internist