@misc{12940,
  abstract     = {{There are limited data on Lyme borreliosis (LB), a tick-borne disease caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, in horses. Seropositivity is not necessarily associated with clinical disease. Data on seropositivity against Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in German horses are sparse. Therefore, serum samples from horses (n = 123) suspected of having Lyme borreliosis and clinically healthy horses (n = 113) from the same stables were tested for specific antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The samples were screened for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (ELISA and an IgG line immunoblot assay). Furthermore, the samples were examined for antibodies against B. burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum with a validated rapid in-house test (SNAP® 4Dx Plus® ELISA). The clinical signs of suspect horses included lameness (n = 36), poor performance (n = 19), and apathy (n = 12). Twenty-three percent (n = 26) of suspect horses and 17% (n = 18) of clinically healthy horses were seropositive for having a Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection (p = 0.371), showing that the detection of specific antibodies against B. burgdorferi alone is not sufficient for a diagnosis of equine LB. Anaplasma phagocytophilum seropositivity and seropositivity against both pathogens was 20%/6% in suspect horses and 16%/2% in the clinically healthy population, showing only minor differences (p = 0.108). Unspecific testing for antibodies against B. burgdorferi without clinical suspicion of Lyme borreliosis is not recommended since the clinical relevance of seropositivity against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato remains to be elucidated.}},
  author       = {{Gehlen, Heidrun and Inerle, Katharina and Bartel, Alexander and Stöckle, Sabita Diana and Ulrich, Sebastian and Briese, Beatrice and Straubinger, Reinhard K.}},
  booktitle    = {{Animals}},
  issn         = {{2076-2615}},
  keywords     = {{equine Lyme borreliosis, equine granulocytic anaplasmosis, seroprevalence, co-infection}},
  number       = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  title        = {{{Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infections in German Horses}}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/ani13121984}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

@misc{12962,
  abstract     = {{Background
Borrelia burgdorferi is a tick-borne spirochete that causes Lyme borreliosis (LB). After an initial tick bite, it spreads from the deposition site in the dermis to distant tissues of the host. It is generally believed that this spirochete disseminates via the hematogenous route. Borrelia persica causes relapsing fever and is able to replicate in the blood stream. Currently the exact dissemination pathway of LB pathogens in the host is not known and controversially discussed.
Methods
In this study, we established a strict intravenous infection murine model using host-adapted spirochetes. Survival capacity and infectivity of host-adapted B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss) were compared to those of B. persica (Bp) after either intradermal (ID) injection into the dorsal skin of immunocompetent mice or strict intravenous (IV) inoculation via the jugular vein. By in vitro culture and PCR, viable spirochetes and their DNA load in peripheral blood were periodically monitored during a 49/50-day course post-injection, as well as in various tissue samples collected at day 49/50. Specific antibodies in individual plasma/serum samples were detected with serological methods.
Results
Regardless of ID or IV injection, DNA of Bp was present in blood samples up to day 24 post-challenge, while no Bbss was detectable in the blood circulation during the complete observation period. In contrast to the brain tropism of Bp, Bbss spirochetes were found in ear, skin, joint, bladder, and heart tissue samples of only ID-inoculated mice. All tested tissues collected from IV-challenged mice were negative for traces of Bbss. ELISA testing of serum samples showed that Bp induced gradually increasing antibody levels after ID or IV inoculation, while Bbss did so only after ID injection but not after IV inoculation.
Conclusions
This study allows us to draw the following conclusions: (i) Bp survives in the blood and disseminates to the host’s brain via the hematogenous route; and (ii) Bbss, in contrast, is cleared rapidly from the blood stream and is a tissue-bound spirochete.}},
  author       = {{Liang, Liucun and Wang, Jinyong and Schorter, Lucas and Nguyen Trong, Thu Phong and Fell, Shari and Ulrich, Sebastian and Straubinger, Reinhard K.}},
  booktitle    = {{Parasites & vectors}},
  issn         = {{1756-3305}},
  keywords     = {{Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Tick-borne relapsing fever, Borrelia persica, Blood clearance}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central }},
  title        = {{{Rapid clearance of Borrelia burgdorferi from the blood circulation}}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s13071-020-04060-y}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}