A mouse model of Borrelia meningitis after intradermal injection

Both young and adult C3H/HeN mice developed meningitis within 3 weeks of intradermal inoculation with a newly identified uncultivable Borrelia species, an agent of human relapsing fever, Meningoencephalitis with perivascular infiltrates and plexitis developed at similar to 25 days after inoculation, Infiltrates were composed of B and plasma cells and monocytes, This model recreated the meningitis associated with spirochetal infections through an intradermal route of infection.