The course of Borrelia burgdorferi-infection in Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), its effect on the health of these animals, and their reservoir competence for fleas were evaluated experimentally. Four yearling females inoculated intramuscularly with 108 organisms of the CA4 strain of B. burgdorferi, and two yearling males unexposed to spirochetes, were monitored daily for 3 mo. Spirochetes were reisolated from the blood of three does at 14 or 70 days postinjection, and from several tissues of the fourth doe at necropsy. Considerable antigenic heterogeneity was observed among the reisolates as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Only two of the four infected deer developed significant antibodies (≥ 1:128) to B. burgdorferi with titers persisting for ≤2 mo. Hematological values were highly variable and the degree of variation observed was much greater than that reported previously for Columbian black-tailed deer or other subspecies of mule deer. Infected deer did not manifest signs of Lyme disease. On histologic examination of eight tissues per deer, we observed a minimal hepatic lesion in all animals exposed to B. burgdorferi. No spirochetes were detected in 367 fleas (Pulex irritans) that had naturally infested these deer; thus this flea probably is an inefficient host of B. burgdorferi.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Articles|
January 01 1994
EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER WITH THE LYME DISEASE SPIROCHETE
Robert S. Lane;
Robert S. Lane
1 Department of Entomological Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Diana M. P. Berger;
Diana M. P. Berger
2 Office of Laboratory Animal Care, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Leslie E. Casher;
Leslie E. Casher
1 Department of Entomological Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
W. Burgdorfer
W. Burgdorfer
3 Laboratory of Vectors and Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
J Wildl Dis (1994) 30 (1): 20–28.
Article history
Received:
February 12 1993
Citation
Robert S. Lane, Diana M. P. Berger, Leslie E. Casher, W. Burgdorfer; EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER WITH THE LYME DISEASE SPIROCHETE. J Wildl Dis 1 January 1994; 30 (1): 20–28. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-30.1.20
Download citation file:
Citing articles via
Presence of Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) in Habitat Associated with Allegheny Woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Western Virginia, USA, 2022–24
Karen E. Powers, Meghan H. Cavanagh, Lorien G. Walker, Samuel D. Elsen, A. Theoden Struthers, L. Kristen Page
Trichomonad Disease in Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo): Pathology and Molecular Characterization of Histomonas, Tetratrichomonas, Tritrichomonas, and Simplicimonas spp.
Kayla G. Adcock, Alisia A. W. Weyna, Michael J. Yabsley, Rowan E. Bäck, Kayla Buck Garrett, Kevin D. Niedringhaus, Melanie R. Kunkel, Heather M. A. Fenton, M. Kevin Keel, Charlie S. Bahnson, Elizabeth Elsmo, Nicole M. Nemeth
High Prevalence of Sarcocystis in a Collapsed Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Population from the Florida Keys
Brandon M. McDonald, Michael V. Cove, Mark G. Ruder, Michael J. Yabsley, Kayla B. Garrett, Alec T. Thompson, Nicole M. Nemeth, Jeremy D. Dixon, Marcus A. Lashley
Seroprevalence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in Beaufort Sea Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) is Linked to Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida) Demographics
Brooke A. Biddlecombe, Nicholas W. Pilfold, Evan S. Richardson, Susan Kutz, Fabien Mavrot, Angela Schneider, Andrew E. Derocher
Evaluation of Dexmedetomidine with Tiletamine-Zolazepam for Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) Immobilization
Hao Shi, Zhurui Shao, Xin Xiong, Yuhang Gao, Shunfu He, Xiaofei Wang, Zichen Liu, Yipeng Jin