EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION OF BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI IN WHITE-TAILED DEER

Four white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were experimentally in oculated with Borrelia burgdorferi to determine serologic response by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting. Deer had antibodies by ELISA by 2 to 3 wk post-inoculation (PI) and remained p ositive for 10 wk. Deer demonstrated immunoblotting reactivity between 10 and 14 days PI and consistently showed antibody response to nine B . burgdorferi antigens. Attempts were made to recover the spirochete f rom blood and tissues; B. burgdorferi was isolated from an ear punch b iopsy from one of the inoculated deer.