False positive Borrelia burgdorferi antibody titres associated with periodontal disease in dogs
Schillhorn van Veen, T.W.; Murphy, A.J.; Colmery, B.
Veterinary Record 132(20): 512
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8322435 Document Number: 414573
Serum samples from healthy dogs which had been submitted for heartworm testing and from 20 dogs with clinically detectable periodontal disease were tested for antibodies to B. burgdorferi using an indirect fluorescent antibody test and a commercial ELISA. Only 1 of the 20 healthy dogs showed any evidence of B. burgdorferi antibodies, while half of the 20 with periodontal disease had detectable serum antibodies in the IFA test, and 4 in the ELISA. It is concluded that periodontal disease may cause false positive results in the antibody tests for Lyme disease.