Experimental feline Lyme borreliosis as a model for testing Borrelia burgdorferi vaccines

The feline model investigated establishes that domestic cats may act as an animal model for evaluating the pathogenesis of Lyme borreliosis. Specifically this feline model demonstrates: First, that animals seroconvert following either needle injection of, or arthropod delivery of, Borrelia burgdorferi. Clinical findings obtained are consistent with those observed in human Lyme disease; histopathological observations are also consistent with those observed in human Lyme disease. Therefore, cats may also be used as a representative animal model for measuring immune protection against Lyme borreliosis. Specifically we are exploring the protective capacity of Borrelia burgdorferi antigenic compounds in cats, namely OspA, OspB, OspC, heat shock proteins, flagellar antigens and various protective immunological combinations.