Monday, February 24, 2014

New Technique Speeds Diagnosis of Lyme Disease in Horses

KER.Equinews.com - Full Article

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 6, 2014

Like some other equine maladies, Lyme disease is somewhat difficult to diagnose because signs are vague, confusing, or nonexistent in some infected horses. Common signs such as weight loss and low-grade fever might suggest a generalized infection; poor performance, sporadic lameness, muscle tenderness, and arthritis seem to indicate musculoskeletal problems; and behavioral changes and skin hypersensitivity are compatible with neurologic disease.

Lyme disease has been reported in horses from the eastern United States as well as California and Texas. The disease is spread to horses when biting ticks pass on Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes. Some horses may develop antibodies after exposure, but never develop clinical signs of illness; others develop signs several months after they are exposed. Early detection of Lyme disease allows treatment to begin sooner, speeding recovery...

Read more here:
http://ker.equinews.com/article/new-technique-speeds-diagnosis-lyme-disease-horses?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cbc2c5e346-ker-horse-nutri-kentucky-equine-02_12_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-cbc2c5e346-11166

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