Figure 1. Immunoblots from four mice demonstrating seroconversion in animals when spirochetes were detected by microscopy or qPCR after ticks fed to repletion (A), or were interrupted after attaching for 15 seconds (B).

Animals that were fed on by infected ticks yet spirochetes were undetectable in murine blood (C and D). B. turicatae protein lysates and rBipA were electrophoresed in lane 1 and 2, respectively. Serum samples were collected from animals four weeks after tick feeding. Molecular masses (kilodaltons) are indicated to the left of each immunoblot.