Endotoxicity associated with the Lyme disease Borrelia: recent findings
Fumarola, D.; Munno, I.; Marcuccio, C.; Miragliotta, G.
Microbiologica 9(2): 249-252
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-5352 PMID: 3713546 Document Number: 268910
The endotoxicity of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme Disease, a tick-borne spirochetosis, was studied using Limulus assay and pyrogen test in rabbit. Some suspensions of Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes dammini associated Borrelia were able to gelify Limulus lysate and demonstrated a febrile response in rabbit. These findings and other recent data demonstrating an endotoxin-like activity of the Lyme Disease agent are discussed in the context of the pathogenic mechanisms of the illness.