Demonstration of the Ability of a Canine Lyme Vaccine to Reduce the Incidence of Histological Synovial Lesions Following Experimentally-Induced Canine Lyme Borreliosis

Publication date: Available online 31 August 2016 Source:Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology Author(s): Deborah A. Grosenbaugh, Daniel R. Rissi, Paula M. Krimer Lyme disease in dogs can be effectively prevented by vaccination against antigens expressed by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi during transmission by the tick vector Ixodes sp. Lyme vaccine efficacy has traditionally been based on indicators of infection following wild-caught tick challenge whereas most other types of vaccine are required to demonstrate protection from clinical signs of disease. In this vaccination-challenge study we sought to demonstrate the ability of a nonadjuvanted, outer surface protein A (OspA) vaccine to protect from infection and to prevent synovial lesions consistent with Borreliosis. Thirty, purpose-bred beagles were randomly divided into vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. The vaccinated group was administered two subcutaneous doses of a nonadjuvanted, purified, Borrelia burgdorferi OspA vaccine at a 21- day interval. Dogs were challenged by wild-caught, B. burgdorferi-infected ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Clinical signs, serology, Borrelia isolation and PCR evaluated antemortem vaccine efficacy. Postmortem histopathological analysis of synovial tissue was compared to antemortem infection status. Borreliosis was demonstrated by Borrelia isolation from skin biopsies in 13 out of 15 unvaccinated dogs. All unvaccinated dogs’ Western blot profiles were consistent with infection. ...
Source: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research