If my animal is positive on the assay, should he/she be treated for Lyme disease? Quantifying antibodies is an important measure for successful treatment and to confirm cure from Lyme disease. The in-house assay cannot detect early infection, cannot determine vaccination status, and does not quantify the amount of antibodies your animal is producing. Your veterinarian can perform a quick assay in-house that checks for antibodies against only one B. How is the Lyme Multiplex assay different from the assay my veterinarian can perform? It can also be used to monitor protective antibodies after vaccination. This antibody profile can indicate whether an animal has been recently infected or is chronically infected with B. burgdorferi at three different stages of the bacterial life cycle. The Lyme Multiplex assay quantifies antibodies directed against specific proteins on the surface of B. What does the Lyme Multiplex assay measure? Antibodies recognize and bind to the bacteria and help to eliminate the infection. Verifying your animal’s antibody response to vaccination helps to assure durable protection.Īntibodies are proteins produced by an animal’s immune system in response to a foreign substance such as bacteria or viruses. Antibody amounts and duration of vaccine antibodies can vary in individuals. burgdorferi through vaccination can further protect your animal. Tick control and prevention methods significantly reduce the likelihood of infection. If clinical signs correspond to Lyme disease, your veterinarian will order a serologic test such as the Lyme Multiplex assay. Your veterinarian will observe your animal in order to confirm clinical signs of disease. These signs typically occur at the chronic disease stage and as early as 2-5 months after infections, although it is possible for signs to develop much later. Only 5-10% of infected animals are expected to show clinical signs of Lyme disease. When do clinical signs of Lyme disease occur? Sometimes, the bacteria can infect the central nervous system, leading to neurologic symptoms. In addition, serious kidney complications have been associated with Lyme disease in dogs.Ĭlinical signs of Lyme disease in horses include shifting-leg lameness, generalized stiffness, hypersensitivity to touch, weight loss, and poor performance. The bacteria are transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, such as deer ticks.ĭogs can display several forms of Lyme disease, but the most common symptoms are lameness, swollen lymph nodes, joint swelling, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Lyme disease is caused by infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. This fully quantitative test is only available at Cornell University through the NYS Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Cornell's Lyme Multiplex assay provides a unique tool to determine the stage of Lyme disease infection, treatment outcomes, and vaccination status in dogs and horses.

Cornell diagnostic lab tick testing