Vaccination with theospA- andospB-Negative Borrelia burgdorferi Strain 50772 Provides Significant Protection against Canine Lyme Disease

Abstract

ABSTRACTBeagles received placebo orospA- andospB-negativeBorrelia burgdorferibefore a tick challenge. A total of 28 (41%) ticks and skin biopsy specimens from each control dog (n= 10) containedB. burgdorferi. In contrast, 12 (19%) ticks recovered from the vaccine recipients (n= 10) were infected (P= 0.0077), and 5 dogs yielded spirochetes from the skin biopsy specimens (P= 0.0325). In addition, 9 (90%) placebo recipients and 4 (40%) vaccine recipients developed joint abnormalities (P= 0.0573). Therefore, vaccination with theospA- andospB-negative spirochete provided significant protection against Lyme disease.