Table 2. Percent Borrelia hermsii Vlp7+ in tick midgut and salivary glands.
| Midgut | Salivary Glands | ||||||
| Strain | No. ticks | No. Spirochetes examineda | No. Spirochetes Vlp7+ b , c | % Spirochetes Vlp7+ | No. Spirochetes examined | No. Spirochetes Vlp7+ | % Spirochetes Vlp7+ |
| Wild-type | 5 | 147 | 65 | 44 | 170 | 0 | 0 |
| Δvtp | 6 | 305 | 219 | 72 | 84 | 0 | 0 |
a
Ticks were infected by feeding on spirochetemic mice and examined 7–116 days after infection.
b
Number of spirochetes producing Vlp7 detected by double-labeled IFA.
c
The number of spirochetes producing Vlp7 in the midgut versus the salivary glands is significantly different (Fisher’s Exact Test, P<0.0001).