title: Serum antibodies to whole-cell and recombinant antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi in cottontail rabbits.
abstract: Archived serum samples, from 95 eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) captured in New York, New York, USA and Millbrook, New York, USA, during 1985-86, were analyzed in solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for total and class-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies to whole-cell or recombinant antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Using a polyvalent conjugate, rabbit sera contained antibodies to whole-cell and recombinant antigens (protein [p]35, p37, or VlsE) during different seasons, but there was no reactivity to outer surface protein (Osp)A or OspB. Seventy-six of the 102 sera (75%) analyzed were reactive with one or more of the antigens; 61 of the positive samples (80%) reacted to whole-cell antigens, followed by results for the p35 (58%, 44/76), VlsE (43%, 33/76), and p37 (29%, 22/ 76) antigens. Fifty-eight sera (76%) contained antibodies to the VlsE or p35 antigens with or without reactivity to whole-cell antigens. High antibody titers (≥1:2,560) recorded for 52 sera indicate robust antibody production. In analyses for IgM antibodies in an ELISA containing whole-cell antigens, there were 30 positive sera; titers ranged from 1:160 to 1:640. There was minimal cross-reactivity when rabbit antisera to Treponema pallidum or four serovars of Leptospira interrogans were screened against B. burgdorferi antigens. Based on more-specific results, VlsE and p35 antigens appear to be useful markers for detecting possible B. burgdorferi infections.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, PO Box 1106, New Haven, Connecticut 06504, USA. louis.magnarelli@ct.gov
authors.forename: Louis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Magnarelli
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fikrig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011994:Recombinant Proteins