New infectious spirochete isolated from short-tailed shrews and white-footed mice

J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Aug;25(8):1490-4. doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.8.1490-1494.1987.

Abstract

A spirochete with two periplasmic flagella was isolated from the blood or tissues of spleens and kidneys from short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) in Connecticut and Minnesota. After inoculation, the shrew-mouse spirochete infected Swiss mice and Syrian hamsters. This spirochete is morphologically and serologically distinct from the species of Treponema, Borrelia, Leptospira, and Spirochaeta examined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Connecticut
  • Cricetinae
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Kidney / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Minnesota
  • Peromyscus / microbiology*
  • Rodent Diseases / microbiology*
  • Shrews / microbiology*
  • Spirochaetales / classification
  • Spirochaetales / isolation & purification*
  • Spirochaetales / ultrastructure
  • Spirochaetales Infections / microbiology
  • Spirochaetales Infections / veterinary*
  • Spleen / microbiology