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Chronic Lyme borreliosis in the laboratory mouse
S W Barthold1, M S de Souza, J L Janotka
1Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Abstract:
C3H/HeJ mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(7) uncloned Borrelia burgdorferi at 4 weeks of age and examined on days 30, 90, 180, and 360. Spirochetes were isolated from multiple tissues at all intervals. Joint and heart disease were present in all mice at 30 days and resolved after 90 days. At 180 and 360 days, some mice had mild recurrent joint and heart disease, and most had peripheral segmental periarteritis. The protein electrophoretic migration of 360-day isolates differed from the original inoculum. The experiment was repeated with C3H/HeN and BALB/cByJ mice inoculated intradermally with 10(4) cloned B. burgdorferi. Characterization of infection and disease at 180 and 360 days were similar to those of the first experiment, but spirochetal proteins of isolates from both intervals displayed no protein variation in electrophoretic mobilities. Spirochetes isolated at 360 days were fully pathogenic in naive mice. Sera from infected mice showed an initial immunoglobulin M response, followed by a sustained immunoglobulin G response, involving IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3, with expanding reactivity against multiple antigens over time. These results indicate that immunocompetent mice sustain persistent infections and develop early acute joint and heart lesions that resolve and then recur intermittently.
Insights
Immunocompetent mice infected with Borrelia burgdorferi develop persistent infections. Early joint and heart disease resolve but may recur, indicating chronic Lyme disease potential.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Veterinary Pathology
Background:
- Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease.
- Understanding the host-pathogen interaction and disease progression is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in immunocompetent mice.
- To characterize the development and recurrence of Lyme disease-associated pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Inoculation of mice (C3H/HeJ, C3H/HeN, BALB/cByJ) with Borrelia burgdorferi.
- Serial examination of spirochete presence, tissue pathology, and protein electrophoresis.
- Analysis of host immune response, including immunoglobulin M and G antibody production.
Main Results:
- Spirochetes were isolated from multiple tissues throughout the 360-day study period.
- Acute joint and heart disease resolved by 90 days but recurred intermittently, with periarteritis observed later.
- Host sera demonstrated a robust and evolving immunoglobulin G response to Borrelia antigens.
Conclusions:
- Immunocompetent mice sustain persistent Borrelia burgdorferi infections.
- Lyme disease in mice involves early acute lesions that resolve and can recur, mimicking chronic infection patterns.
- Spirochetal isolates remained pathogenic and exhibited host-specific protein variations over time.