EXPRESSION OF OUTER SURFACE-PROTEIN-A AND SURFACE-PROTEIN-C OF BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI IN IXODES-RICINUS

A total of 472 field-collected Ixodes ricinus ticks from southern Germ any were investigated by immunofluorescence for the presence of Borrel ia burgdorferi with a polyvalent rabbit immune serum and,vith monoclon al antibodies specific for outer surface proteins A and C (OspA and Os pC, respectively). Borreliae were detected in 90 ticks with the polyva lent immunofluorescence assay. Infection rates in adults (females, 20. 2%; males, 25.2%) were significantly higher than in nymphs (12.1%). Os pA was detected in 77 ticks and OspC was detected in only 1 tick with the respective monoclonal antibodies. We therefore conclude that B. bu rgdorferi in unfed I. ricinus ticks usually expresses OspA and very ra rely OspC.