DEVELOPMENT OF DESTRUCTIVE ARTHRITIS IN VACCINATED HAMSTERS CHALLENGED WITH BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI

We present the first direct evidence that adverse effects, particularl y severe destructive arthritis, can develop in vaccinated hamsters aft er challenge with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu late isolates. Hamsters w ere vaccinated with a whole-cell preparation of Formalin-inactivated B . burgdorferi sensu stricto isolate C-1-11 in adjuvant. A severe destr uctive arthritis was readily evoked in vaccinated hamsters challenged with the homologous B. burgdorferi sensu stricto isolate C-1-11 before high levels of protective borreliacidal antibody developed. Once high levels of C-1-11 borreliacidal antibody developed, hamsters were prot ected from homologous challenge and development of arthritis. Vaccinat ed hamsters, however, still developed severe destructive arthritis whe n challenged with other isolates of the three genomic groups of B. bur gdorferi sensu late (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto isolate 297, Borreli a garinii isolate LV4, and Borrelia afzelii isolate BV1) despite high levels of C-1-11 specific borreliacidal antibody. Vaccines that contai ned whole spirochetes in adjuvant induced destructive arthritis, but t his effect was not dependent on the isolate of B. burgdorferi sensu la te or the type of adjuvant, These studies demonstrate that caution is necessary when employing whole spirochetes in adjuvant for vaccination to prevent Lyme borreliosis. Additional studies are needed to identif y the antigen(s) responsible for the induction and activation of arthr itis and to define the immune mechanisms involved.