Host Competency of the Multimammate Rat Mastomys natalensis Demonstrated by Prolonged Spirochetemias with the African Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia crocidurae.

ABSTRACT: African multimammate rats, Mastomys natalensis, are widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and live in close association with humans. In West Africa, numerous field studies have shown these animals may be naturally infected with the relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia crocidurae, the primary cause of tick-borne relapsing fever in this region of the continent. However, naturally infected individual rats have never been examined over time; therefore, the true host competency of these rats for this spirochete is unknown. Therefore, using animals from an established laboratory colony of M. natalensis, rats were experimentally infected with B. crocidurae and their blood examined to 28 days postinoculation. These animals were highly susceptible to infection and disp

SUBMITTER: Boardman K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6896849 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature