Table 1 Prevalence of exposure and infection with Borrelia persica and demographic characteristics in 208 dogs as determined by DNA detection by PCR and antibody detection by ELISA

Total

208

4 (1.9)

24 (11.5)

28 (11.5)

Sex

Female

99

3 (2.8)

12 (11)

15 (13.7)

Male

109

1 (1)

12 (12.1)

13 (13.1)

Statistical significance

χ² = 0.001, df = 1, P = 0.973

χ² = 0.001, df = 1, P = 0.973

Breed

Purebred

76

3 (3.9)

9 (11.8)

12 (15.78)

Mixed

132

1 (9.1)

15 (11.3)

16 (12.1)

Statistical significance

χ² = 0.0001, df = 1, P = 1

χ² = 0.287, df = 1, P = 0.592

Age

Juvenile

9

0 (0)

1 (11.1)

1 (11.1)

Adult

199

4 (2.1)

23 (11.5)

27 (13.5)

Statistical significance

χ² = 0.0001, df = 1, P = 1

χ² = 0.0001, df = 1, P = 1

Antibiotic treatment

Yes

16

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

No

108

3 (2.7)

19 (17.6)

22 (20)

Unknown

84

1 (1.1)

5 (5.9)

6 (7.14)

Statistical significance

*χ² = 8.533, df = 2, P = 0.014

*χ² = 9.793, df = 2, P = 0.007

Habitat

Urban

183

4 (2.3)

20 (10.9)

24 (13.1)

Rural

25

0 (0)

4 (16)

4 (16)

Statistical significance

χ² = 0.169, df = 1, P = 0.681

χ² = 0.007, df = 1, P = 0.933

Climate

Mediterranean

143

3 (2)

13 (9)

16 (11.1)

Semi-arid

65

1 (1.5)

11 (17)

12 (18.4)

Arid

0

0

0

0

Statistical significance

χ² = 1.973, df = 2, P = 0.160

χ² = 1.453, df = 2, P = 0.228

Geographic area of residence

Central Israel

47

0 (0)

4 (8.5)

4 (8.3)

Jerusalem

16

0 (0)

3 (18.7)

3 (18.7)

Judean desert

60

1 (1.7)

10 (16.7)

11 (16.7)

Coastal plain

77

3 (3.9)

7 (9.1)

10 (9.1)

South-central Israel

8

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Statistical significance

χ² = 4.279, df = 4, P = 0.370

χ² = 3.855, df = 4, P = 0.426