Figure 5. The vmp expression site is required for B. hermsii to relapse in mice infected by ticks.

Ten ticks infected with either the wild-type (WT), Vmp⁻ or Vmp⁺R strains were placed on a mouse and allowed to feed. Mice were sampled on days 3–14 post infection and the numbers of spirochetes per ml of blood were determined by QPCR. Each plot represents the data from an individual mouse.