Bacteriocidal activity of lizard and mouse serum for Borrelia lonestari, putative agent of a Lyme-like illness (AKA STARI or Masters disease) in Missouri.

OBJECTIVE

To determine responses of Borrelia lonestari and Borrelia burgdorferi to Eastern Fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) and Swiss-Webster mouse (Mus musculus) sera.

RESULTS

Lizard sera lysed both Borrelia lonestari and Borrelia burgdorferi. Mouse sera lysed only Borrelia lonestari.

CONCLUSIONS

Borrelia lonestari and Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes did not survive exposure to lizard sera. Mice are reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi but may not be a Borrelia lonestari reservoir because spirochetes did not survive exposure to mouse sera.