Myocarditis in mice and guinea pigs experimentally infected with a canine-origin Borrelia isolate from Florida.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the pathogenic potential of a unique Borrelia isolate obtained from a dog from Florida (FCB isolate).


METHODS
Prospective experimental infection.


METHODS
32 preweanling Swiss Webster mice and 12 adult male Hartley guinea pigs were injected intraperitoneally with 10(5) spirochetes.


METHODS
Mice were used as controls and blood recipients, and at 3- to 4-day intervals, 1 control mouse and 2 infected mice were necropsied, tissues were cultured, and a recipient mouse was inoculated with blood. Guinea pigs were randomized to 4 groups and inoculated intradermally with 10(0), 10(2), 10(3), or 10(4) spirochetes. For 48 days, clinical, hematologic, serologic, and microbiologic tests were performed on them, after which they were necropsied.


RESULTS
In mice, spirochetemia was detectable between postinoculation days (PID) 3 and 13, and seroreactivity to homologous antigen was detectable during PID 10 through 31. Compared with control mice, infected mouse spleens were 2 to 3 times larger. Histologic lesions included lymphoid hyperplasia, neutrophilic panniculitis, epicarditis, and myocarditis, with intralesional spirochetes detected from PID 3 through 6. During PID 10 through 31, nonsuppurative epicarditis developed. Signs of illness and hematologic abnormalities were not observed in guinea pigs, despite isolating spirochetes from blood during PID 7 to 27. When necropsied on PID 48, histologic lesions included lymphoid hyperplasia and lymphocytic plasmacytic epicarditis.


CONCLUSIONS
The FCB isolate causes spirochetemia, lymphoid hyperplasia, dermatitis, and myocardial injury in Swiss Webster mice and can be transmitted by blood inoculation. In Hartley guinea pigs, the isolate causes spirochetemia, lymphoid hyperplasia, and epicarditis. Documentation of disease in mice, guinea pigs, and, presumably, dogs raises the level of concern that the FCB isolate might be pathogenic for man and other animal species.
Breitschwerdt
E B
EB
Department of Companion Animal, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
Geoly
F J
FJ
Meuten
D J
DJ
Levine
J F
JF
Howard
P
P
Hegarty
B C
BC
Stafford
L C
LC
D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001898:Borrelia / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005431:Florida; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence