Growth Kinetics of the Lyme Disease Spirochete (Borrelia Burgdorferi) in Vector Ticks (Ixodes Dammini)

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Abstract
Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi) multiplied rapidly in larval Ixodes dammini, reaching a mean density of 2,735 spirochetes/tick on day 15 post-repletion. A 5-fold drop in spirochete levels occurred during the subsequent premolting period. Recently molted nymphs contained a mean of 104 spirochetes were inoculated ip into hamsters (4 of 4 animals infected). Inocula of 103–4 spirochetes were not always infectious (8 of 23 animals infected), and inocula of <103 spirochetes were insufficient for establishing infection (0 of 8 animals infected).