Table 1.
Evaluation of Topical Antibiotics for Prevention of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in C3H/HeJ Mice Following the Bite of an Infected Ixodes scapularis Tick
| Treatment | Number of Mice With Positive Bladder and/or Ear Culture | Number of Mice With a Positive Skin Culture at Tick Bite Site |
| Experiment 1 | ||
| Erythromycin 2% ointment | 21/25 (84.0%) c | 14/23 (60.9%) d |
| Petrolatum | 19/24 (79.2%) | 16/24 (66.7%) |
| Untreated | 26/27 (96.3%) | 24/26 (92.3%) e |
| P values a | .73; .18 | .77; .01 |
| Experiment 2 | ||
| Tetracycline 3% gel | 10/10 (100%) | 10/10 (100%) |
| Petrolatum | 10/10 (100%) | 8/10 (80%) |
| Untreated | 10/10 (100%) | 9/9 (100%) f |
| P values b | 1.0; 1.0 | .47; 1.0 |
The first listed P value is for the comparison of erythromycin versus petrolatum treatment; the second listed P value is for the comparison of erythromycin versus no treatment, each by the Fisher’s exact test.
The first listed P value is for the comparison of tetracycline versus petrolatum treatment; the second listed P value is for the comparison of tetracycline versus no treatment, each by the Fisher’s exact test.
Two mice considered unevaluable because both bladder and ear cultures were contaminated.
Four mice considered unevaluable because the culture of skin from the tick bite site was contaminated.
One mouse considered unevaluable because the culture of skin from the tick bite site was contaminated.
One mouse considered unevaluable because the culture of skin from the tick bite site was contaminated.