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  Discussion on C6 elisa for Lyme disease
Author Message
Member:
sbower

Posted on Monday, Feb 11, 2008 - 11:05 pm:

Dr O, As I understand it there is a relatively new test called C6 Elisa that can diagnosis Lyme Disease in horses. It was developed for dogs but can be used for horses too. Is this test a definitive answer? If the test is positive/ when combined with clinical symptoms would you recommend a course of Doxycycline?

My vet is trying to convince me to have my horse tested for Lyme. From what I have read here there still is no proof that high titers means that the horse actually has contracted the disease. I'm normally a logical person but as my horse continues to show symptoms that can't be explained (picks at food, sore muscles, joint pain, weight and muscle loss) I guess I'm willing to consider it. EPM, bloodwork, Succeed ulcer test, fecal all negative....
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 - 6:17 am:

No Shelly it will not answer the question: do horses display symptoms of disease when they have a titer to the disease. We already have tests that can identify horses that have been exposed.

One of the problems with the diagnosis is in several large epidemiological studies when you compare the horses with titers to those without titers you find the same incidence of chronic disease problems. Neither is there a difference in the type chronic disease present. That all said Shelly, we always recommend you follow your veterinarians recommendations. Although the amount of evidence for Lymes being at best a rare problem in horses we do not have strong evidence it is no problem. I do find it interesting the number who report help with the "cyclines". Recently it has been discovery that the cyclines, beside there antimicrobial properties, have some fairly strong non-specific antiinflammatory properties. This could explain the improvement.
DrO
New Member:
rochelle

Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - 11:50 am:

Dr. O.

What other things should we look for instead of lyme disease. My 4 yr. old has many symptoms - and a mild titer but a positive Western blot. My vet doesn't is not a Lyme "advocate" but considering his symptoms and the tests - thinks it's a good idea to treat him with doxy. I want to do more research before I subject him to so many antibiotics.
Frustrated. Thanks for your help.
Rochelle
Member:
erika

Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - 2:18 pm:

Dr, O, in light of these questions, and my own thread on my mare with Lyme:

From what I have read there are at least three different strains of Lyme's. I have had friends with mild cases who recovered easily with treatment. My husband and another friend, however have had a h*** of a time getting over extreme cases.

Is it possible that horses get sick from one type of Lyme, but show no symptoms from other types--even though they show an immune reaction in the tests? Are some strains more virulent than others, or some individuals just more vulnerable?
Erika
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2008 - 7:43 am:

Rochelle if fever is one of your symptoms consider the list of possibilities in the article Diseases of Horses ยป Fever of Unknown Origin. If after reading the article you still have questions you should start a new discussion. The start a new discussion button will be at the bottom of the article after the list of already existing discussions.

Erika, there are three species of Borrelia commonly associated with Lyme disease in humans that occur in different geographic areas though there is some overlap. Within the most commonly found US specie there are numerous genotypes, I count 9 at present and there may be more. In humans the "B" genotype does seem to have a higher propensity for causing human disease.

Both hypothesis that you put forward have been postulated but since we have not been able to experimentally create disease, even using ticks as vectors, and epidemiological studies do not find any pattern of increased incidence of "Lyme type disease" in those horses with titers when compared with those who do not have titers exploration has not gotten that far in horses but it would seem a natural next step to experiment with these two possibilities in mind. We have an article on Lyme currently in development and should be coming out early next week.
DrO
Member:
erika

Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2008 - 8:29 am:

Dr.O, as usual, thanks for your prompt and thorough answer. I look forward, not only to your new article, but to further research on this disease.

In our area Lyme is so prevalent and so devastating to so many people that I can't help but wonder why this isn't a huge priority in medical research.

Sorry for the thread hijack...
Erika
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