Complement‐Mediated Killing of <i>Borrelia garinii</i> —Bactericidal Activity of Wild Deer Serum

Abstract

The susceptibility of Borrelia garinii to fresh wild deer sera was determined by incubating strain SIKA2 at 10% serum concentration for 1 hr at 37 C in an in vitro bactericidal assay. Each serum showed bactericidal effects at various levels. The effect was dependent on the concentration of antibody to the spirochetes. Complement was essential in the bactericidal assay because the inactivated deer serum showed greatly decreased activity. Our results suggest that B. garinii is sensitive to deer serum, in the presence of antibody and the bactericidal effect is important for preventing Lyme disease in wild sika deer.