2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

The clinical significance of these results remains unknown, but they suggest the need for further evaluation to determine if candidates for gene therapy from a pet population might require screening tests or immunosuppressive therapy prior to receiving AAV vector based treatment. Improved understanding of Bartonella spp. serological patterns in dogs may aid clinical decision making and enhance current understanding of naturally-occurring arthropod vector transmission. We analyzed a large diagnostic laboratory database to better understand Bartonella seroepidemiology of dogs in North America, identifying demographic groups in which Bartonella exposure may be more likely, describing variations in chronologic and geographic patterns of Bartonella seroreactivity, and examining coexposure to other vector-borne pathogens. We hypothesize that there will be no significant demographic risk factors for Bartonella exposure, and that Bartonella exposure will be more common in regions and seasons with high vector prevalence and among dogs with other canine vector-borne disease (CVBD) exposure.