Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment activates Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes 4 weeks after ceftriaxone treatment in C3H/He mice.

Background: The effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha treatment in Borrelia burgdorferi-infected and ceftriaxone-treated C3H/He mice was evaluated.

Methods: Mice were infected with B. garinii A218 or B.

Persistent joint swelling and Borrelia-specific antibodies in Borrelia garinii-infected mice after eradication of vegetative spirochetes with antibiotic treatment.

We wanted to study the pathogenesis and the long-term manifestations of Borrelia garinii infection in SJL and C3H/He mice. We report here that B. garinii A218 causes a persisting infection in these mouse strains.