J Korean Soc Microbiol.  1999 Oct;34(5):471-478.

Study on Pathogenicity of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Isolated in Korea

Abstract

Spirochetes were isolated from the midgut of Ixodes persulcatus ticks captured at Chungju, Korea and identified as Borrelia afzelii strains by polymerase chain reaction. To determine the pathogenicity of the B. afzelii strains isolated in Korea, the microbiological and pathological features of Lyme disease were observed in C3H/He mice after intraperitoneal inoculation of the fresh isolate of B. afzelii strain. The results are summarized as follows 1) The Borrelia were detected in the tissues of heart, spleen, kidney, urinary bladder and knee joint within 7 days after inoculation of infection by dark field microscopic examination. The isolation rate from heart, urinary bladder and joint was significantly higher than the rate from spleen, kidney, and blood samples. 2) The Borrelia was detected in heart muscle by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. 3) Antibody to the Borrelia was detected as early as one week after inoculation. 4) The marked tropism of the Borrelia was observed in myocardial, urinary tract and joint tissue. The main pathological features are inflammation in tissues of heart, kidney, joint and urinary bladder. From these results, the Borrelia afzelii strain isolated in Korea were determined as pathogenic strain.

Keyword

Borrelia afzelli; Pathogenicity; Immunofluorescent antibody test; Isolation; Pathology

MeSH Terms

Animals
Borrelia burgdorferi Group*
Borrelia burgdorferi*
Borrelia*
Chungcheongbuk-do
Heart
Inflammation
Ixodes
Joints
Kidney
Knee Joint
Korea*
Lyme Disease
Mice
Myocardium
Pathology
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Spirochaetales
Spleen
Ticks
Tropism
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Tract
Virulence*
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