Development of PCR and nested-PCR for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs

The elaboration of optimal parameters for PCR and Nested-PCR for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs was the aim of the studies. Two sets of primers were designed on the base of the highly conserved flagellin-encoding gene of B. burgdorferi. Amplification of 437 bp and 144 bp fragments of flagellin gene was confirmed in 9 reference BSK-H cultured strains tested, including Polish isolate 236/2. The replication of strain 236/2 of B. burgdorferi in Vero cells was also confirmed by PCR. The application of both PCR and N-PCR for examination of 51 sera collected from dogs with clinical signs indicating natural infection with B. burgdorferi enabled detection of spirochetes in 14 samples. Results of our studies confirmed the high sensitivity and specificity of elaborated PCR and N-PCR which can be used to detect B. burgdorferi sensu lato strains both in inoculated BSK-H medium and Vero cells as well as in serum samples of naturally infected dogs.