2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Overall, 3.26% of accessions were Bartonella spp. seroreactive, a percentage that is comparable to seroreactivity for other CVBDs among US canine population-wide serosurveys. Seroreactivity to B. henselae (2.13%) and B. koehlerae (2.39%) antigens was detected more frequently than seroreactivity to B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (1.42%, P < 0.0001) antigen. Intact male dogs were more likely to be seroreactive (5.04%) than neutered males (2.87%, P < 0.0001; OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.37-2.35, P < 0.0001) or intact or spayed females (3.22%, P = 0.0003; OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.23-2.05, P = 0.0004). Mixed or non-AKC breed dogs were more likely to be seroreactive (4.45%) than purebred dogs (3.02%, P = 0.0002; OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.21-1.85, P = 0.0002). There was no seasonal seroreactivity trend for any of the three Bartonella spp. Geographic patterns of seroreactivity did not correspond with other regional CVBD patterns. Rather, seroreactivity was distributed broadly across North America with some areas of apparent higher exposure risk (B. henselae in WA and CT, B. koehlerae in MO). Co-exposure to other vector-borne pathogens was common, with associations between B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii and multiple other CVBD pathogens. B. koehlerae seroreactivity was associated with Ehrlichia spp. (OR 3.31; 95% CI 2.43-4.51, P < 0.0001) and Rickettsia spp. (OR 2.72; 95% CI 1.57-4.71, P = 0.0002) exposures, but was not associated with the pathogens transmitted predominantly by Ixodesscapularis (B. burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp.).