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Updated: Jun 15, 2025
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Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
Published on: August 31, 2013
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Mouse Models for the Study of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection
Kimberly J Olsen1, Shilpa Sachan2, Nicole Baumgarth1,2,3
1Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA.
Current Protocols
|August 28, 2024
Summary
This study details three mouse models for studying Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) infection, comparing tick infestation, syringe inoculation, and tissue transplantation methods. Protocols for infection and antibiotic treatment are provided to aid researchers in selecting optimal models.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is a significant public health concern with a complex life cycle.
- Studying B. burgdorferi adaptation and immune evasion in mammalian hosts is crucial for understanding persistent infections.
- Existing research necessitates well-defined mouse models to investigate bacterial adaptation and host-pathogen interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail and compare three distinct mouse models for Borrelia burgdorferi infection.
- To provide comprehensive protocols for infection via tick, syringe, and tissue transplantation.
- To outline the advantages and limitations of each model for Lyme disease research.
Main Methods:
- Tick infestation: Natural transmission route with logistical challenges.
- Syringe inoculation: Precise dose control with culture-adapted bacteria.
- Tissue transplantation: Introduces host-adapted bacteria in specific locations, omitting tick factors.
Main Results:
- Each infection route presents unique advantages and limitations for studying B. burgdorferi.
- Tick infestation mimics natural transmission but is logistically complex.
- Syringe inoculation offers dose control but uses culture-adapted bacteria; tissue transplantation uses host-adapted bacteria but lacks tick factors.
Conclusions:
- The choice of mouse model depends on the specific research question in Lyme disease studies.
- Detailed protocols facilitate the selection and implementation of appropriate infection models.
- An antibiotic treatment protocol is provided for reliable spirochete clearance in mice.
