Brevinema andersonii gen. nov., sp. nov., an infectious spirochete isolated from the short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda) and the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus).

A spirochete which infects short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) has been shown previously to be ultrastructurally and serologically distinct from other spirochetes. Two of the original isolates from Connecticut and Minnesota and 16 new isolates obtained from shrews captured in Minnesota were characterized phenotypically and genetically in this study. A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences of two shrew isolates and one mouse isolate and the 16S rRNA sequences of 16 other spirochetes and Escherichia coli revealed that these organisms exhibited low levels of similarity (range of similarity values, 73.

The NIH-3 immunodeficient mouse is a model for Lyme borreliosis myositis and carditis.

Experimental infection of immunodeficient NIH-3 (N:NIH-bg-nu-xid) mice with Borrelia burgdorferi was found to result in multisystem histopathologic lesions. In addition to T-cell deficiency due to the nude mutation, these mice have an x-linked defect affecting the B-cell maturation and the beige mutation resulting in the absence of NK cells. NIH-3 mice were susceptible to progressive infection with B.

In vitro and in vivo induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha by Borrelia burgdorferi.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is an immunoregulatory cytokine with many biological activities including the mediation of inflammation. We examined sera and synovial fluids from patients seropositive for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi using a radioimmunoassay specific for TNF-alpha. Significant elevation of TNF-alpha was found in the sera and synovial fluids of patients examined, while controls showed no elevation.

Lymphoproliferative responses to Borrelia burgdorferi in Lyme disease.

Objective: To compare lymphocyte proliferative responses to Borrelia burgdorferi in healthy controls and patients with Lyme disease.

Patients: Twelve patients fulfilling case-definition criteria for Lyme disease. Twelve healthy volunteers and two newborns served as controls.

[Scorpions and scorpion stings in Jordan].

The scorpion fauna of Jordan consists of fourteen species belonging to three families (Buthidae, Scorpionidae and Diplocentridae), of which three species are poisonous: Leiurus quinquestriatus, Adroctonus crassicauda and Buthus occitanus. A key to all species is included. Five hundred and forty-seven cases of scorpion stings were reported during 1982-1985, including two fatalities.