Tick transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to inbred strains of mice induces an antibody response to P39 but not to outer surface protein A.

Abstract Natural tick transmission of infection by Borrelia burgdorferi induces a very different serum antibody response than needle inoculation of spirochetes. We present data, obtained by using the mouse model, that show that the OspA response was barely detectable, whereas all animals developed significant anti-P39 titers after exposure to B. burgdorferi-infected ticks.