Melanie Reber
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Vets Consider `Chronic' Lyme in Horses
by: Elizabeth Troutman May 30 2008 Article # 11929
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently announced that it will be reviewing the case for "chronic" Lyme disease, as well as the treatments for ongoing symptoms of the tick-borne infection in humans. On the equine side, veterinarians are also investigating whether Lyme disease in horses can be considered a chronic condition, and, if so, how best to handle it.
According to Diana Olson, director of communications for the IDSA, the society's current guidelines do not recognize a chronic Lyme disease condition or the effectiveness of prolonged treatments for chronic clinical signs.
Rick Mitchell, DVM, of Fairfield Equine Associates in Connecticut, said it is difficult to establish a definition for chronic Lyme disease because persistent infection is rare, and the clinical signs exhibited by a horse often could be caused by other conditions.
"Having been involved in advanced level lameness diagnostics for many years, I have all too often seen horses presented that had been treated for chronic Lyme disease repeatedly that actually had real orthopedic problems or other real medical issues, such as gastric or colonic ulcers," he said.
Mitchell has detected recurrence of the infection in the synovial (joint) membranes of horses and, therefore, acknowledges the existence of a chronic condition. These horses are treated with high levels of intravenous oxytetracycline for two to three weeks, followed with oral doxycycline for a month or two. Continued use of doxycylcine might be necessary in some horses.
Yung-Fu Chang, DVM, Dipl. ACVM and Thomas Divers, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, who specialize in infectious diseases at Cornell University, acknowledge the existence of chronic Lyme infection in equids and said that prolonged treatments might benefit some horses showing ongoing clinical signs.
In an antibiotic treatment trial with horses experimentally infected with Lyme's causative bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, the researchers found that clinical signs recurred in some of the treated horses several months after researchers discontinued antibiotics. As a result, they now suspect that B. burgdorferi hides in niche areas that antibiotics cannot easily penetrate, such as in connective tissues.
Chang and Divers added that prolonged antibiotic treatment might not be indicated unless clinical signs return or there is evidence that antibodies against bacteria are decreasing after the first month of treatment.
Clinical signs might include muscular tension, stiffness, and behavioral changes.
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Readers are cautioned to seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.
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Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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Greatcod
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"As a result, they now suspect that B. burgdorferi hides in niche areas that antibiotics cannot easily penetrate, such as in connective tissues."
They are very slow, but they are catching on. The poor creatures suffer just like us.
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I also read this week that I think it was about bart and that bart cannot be cured. Cats can have the symptoms and yet still not appear to be that ill, they are considered carriers. But there are still many cats who have bart and who do get very ill, and even with abx do not get better. It seems abx will keep symptoms down but once off abx bart symptoms go way up. I have been reading some very interesting testing and treatment in vet articles, wish I was a dog or cat, I would get better testing and treatment.
Corinne
Posts: 461 | From Abbotsford, BC, Canada | Registered: Oct 2003
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