AUTHOR=Guarino Cassandra , Pinn-Woodcock Toby , Levine David G. , Miller Julia , Johnson Amy L. 

TITLE=Case Report: Nuchal Bursitis Associated With Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in a Horse

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.743067

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.743067

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Cases of cranial nuchal bursitis associated with <italic>Borrelia burgdorferi</italic> infection have not been thoroughly described. Here, we describe the case of a 17-year-old mare that was presented for low head carriage, dull demeanor, and resistance to haltering. Imaging supported a diagnosis of nuchal bursitis, and bursoscopy with surgical debridement of the nuchal bursa was performed. <italic>B. burgdorferi</italic> was identified by molecular diagnostics in serial samples of the bursal fluid, with no other organisms identified. Serology revealed significant elevation in antibodies directed against OspA of <italic>B. burgdorferi</italic>, but not the typical infection markers, OspC and OspF. Intravenous ceftiofur was administered for 80 days, and the nuchal bursa was directly injected with ceftiofur. The mare recovered and was able to return to work with no recrudescence of clinical signs over the following year to date. Infection with <italic>B. burgdorferi</italic> should be considered as a differential in cases of septic nuchal bursitis.</p>