Lack of Endotoxin in Borrelia hispanica and Treponema pallidum

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
B. hispanica from infected guinea pigs and T. pallidum from testicular syphilomas of rabbits were assayed for the presence of endotoxin with the Limulus lysate test. A suspension of Borrelia, containing 1.3 .times. 108 spirochetes/ml, was nonreactive when it was tested as intact organisms and when tested after disruption of the spirochetes by sonication. Eight different suspensions of treponemes, ranging from 0.6 .times. 109-3 .times. 109 treponemes/ml, were negative at a 1:10 dilution and were no more active than control suspensions of normal rabbit testes. Therefore, T. pallidum and Borrelia possessed no endotoxin.