The domestic pig as a potential model for Borrelia skin infection

Publication date: Available online 7 December 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Michael Reiter, Christian Knecht, Andreas Müller, Anna-Margarita Schötta, Michael Leschnik, Michiel Wijnveld, Herbert Weissenböck, Hannes Stockinger, Gerold Stanek, Wolfgang Sipos The skin lesion erythema migrans is a characteristic early manifestation of Lyme borreliosis in humans. However, the pathomechanisms leading to development of this erythema are not fully understood. Models that mimic human skin would enhance research in this field. Human and porcine skin structures strongly resemble each other. Therefore, we attempted to induce erythema migrans lesions in experimental Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in the skin of domestic pigs. The formation of erythema migrans-like lesions was observed after intradermal injection of these spirochetes, with the lesions forming very clearly in 2/6 animals when a strain of B. garinii was used. However, no molecular or clinical proof of systemic infection of the pigs with B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, or B. garinii could be achieved.
Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases - Category: Zoology Source Type: research