Experimental Relapsing Fever Initiated by Borrelia hermsi: I. Identification of Major Serotypes by Immunofluorescence

Abstract

Immunofluorescent procedures reacted specifically with each of 4 serotypes of borreliae obtained from rats experimentally infected with a single strain of Borrelia hermsi. Fluorescent antibody methods were superior to immobilizationlysis for characterizing the antigenic types of individual organisms and hence for detecting mixed populations of borreliae and new serotypes. Because relatively few organisms were required, immunofluorescence also permitted the identification of spirochetes directly from infected animals. Fluorescent antibody methods provide information not available by other serologic techniques and can materially reduce the amount of work necessary for studies of experimental relapsing fever. Immunofluorescence of degraded spirochetes suggests that these methods may also prove useful in elucidating the antigenic structure of borreliae.