Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs in Alabama, USA.
A random sample of private small-animal practices in Alabama submitted sera from dogs with known tick contact. A total of 579 samples from the three geographic regions of the state were collected (58% of the targeted sample size). Sera were screened for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi using an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test which had a sensitivity and specificity of greater than 90%. Anti-B burgdorferi titers of > or = 1:64 were considered to be positive, based on results from B. burgdorferi-inoculated dogs. Ten of the 579 samples (1.7%) were positive, and titers ranged from 1:64 to 1:512. Seropositive dogs were found throughbout the state, and there was no significant difference in seroprevalence by region (Mantel-Haenszel chi 2, P = 0.85). These results indicate that the seroprevalence for canine Lyme disease in Alabama is low and that use of the canine Lyme disease vaccine is not justified.