Induction of lyme arthritis in LSH hamsters

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Infect. Immun.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6755233

Schmitz, J L; Schell, R F; Hejka, A; England, D M; Konick, L

In studies of experimental Lyme disease, a major obstacle has been the unavailability of a suitable animal model. We found that irradiated LSH/Ss Lak hamsters developed arthritis after injection of Borrelia burgdorferi in the hind paws. When nonirradiated hamsters were injected in the hind paws with B. burgdorferi, acute transient synovitis was present. A diffuse neutrophilic infiltrate involved the synovia and periarticular structures. The inflammation was associated with edema, hyperemia, and granulation tissue. Numerous spirochetes were seen in the synovial and subsynovial tissues. The histopathologic changes were enhanced in irradiated hamsters. The onset and duration of the induced swelling were dependent on the dose of radiation and the inoculum of spirochetes. Inoculation of irradiated hamsters with Formalin-killed spirochetes or medium in which B. burgdorferi had grown for 7 days failed to induce swelling. This animal model should prove useful for studies of the immune response to B. burgdorferi and the pathogenesis of Lyme arthritis.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6755233
• Journal Information: Infect. Immun.; (United States), Vol. 56:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
IMMUNITY
RADIOINDUCTION
RHEUMATIC DISEASES
PATHOGENESIS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
HAMSTERS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
NEUTROPHILS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
DISEASES
LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
RODENTS
SKELETAL DISEASES
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals