LYME-DISEASE IN TAIWAN - PRIMARY ISOLATION OF BORRELIA BURGDORFERI-LIKE SPIROCHETES FROM RODENTS IN THE TAIWAN AREA

To investigate the prevalence of Lyme disease infection in Taiwan, we conducted a zoonotic survey for spirochetal infection in the small mam mals. Ear tissues of trapped rodents collected from various localities in Taiwan were incubated into BSK-H culture medium and examined for t he evidence of spirochetal infection by dark-field microscopy. Spiroch etes cultured from six species of wild and peridomestic rodents and se ven isolates, designated TWKM 1-7, were purified by serial dilution an d membrane filtration. Infection was detected in 16.6% (53 of 320) of captured rodents and the highest infection rate (36.4%) was observed i n the brown country rat (Rattus losea, Swinhoe). Higher infection rate s based on the geographic distribution were observed in the eastern lo calities and on Kimmen Island. Reactivity with Borrelia burgdorferi-sp ecific monoclonal antibodies and Western blot analysis indicated that these Taiwan isolates were closely related to the causative agent of L yme disease, B. burgdorferi sensu late. These results provide the firs t evidence of the existence of Lyme disease spirochetes in the Taiwan area.