Seroepidemiological survey of Lyme borreliosis in horses from East Slovakia.

In monitoring the circulation of Borrelia burgdorferi in animal populations, 207 sera from clinically healthy horses from 11 districts of East Slovakia were examined by ELISA. Anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies were detected in 99 horses (47.8%). The highest seroprevalence was observed in the districts of Presov (59.1%) and Kosice (55.2%). A slightly lower seroprevalence was recorded in the districts of Stropkov (43.7%) and Poprad (33.3%). A significantly lower seroprevalence was recorded from Michalovce district (23.8%) (P < 0.05). The high prevalence (25-100%) found in the rest of the districts is influenced to a certain degree by the small number of horses examined. An analysis of seroprevalence with respect to the age showed that there was no significant differences between 1-3-year-old horses and older horses. Seroprevalence showed the same tendency of its occurrence as regards the exploitation of horses. A significantly lower seroprevalence was recorded in spring compared with summer (P < 0.05).