Johnson R C, Marek N, Kodner C
J Clin Microbiol. 1984 Dec;20(6):1099-101. doi: 10.1128/jcm.20.6.1099-1101.1984.
Syrian hamsters were shown to be susceptible to infection by the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Although these spirochetes did not cause any outward signs of illness in these animals, they did cause a generalized infection. Spirochetemia was present during the first 6 days of infection. At 14 days postinfection, spirochetes could be isolated from one or more of the following organs: spleen, eyes, kidneys, liver, testes, and brain. Spirochetes were isolated from the eyes and kidneys of one animal 52 days postinfection, suggesting that these organisms may cause a persistent infection. Virulence of B. burgdorferi is maintained by animal passage but is lost upon prolonged in vitro cultivation.
叙利亚仓鼠已被证明易受莱姆病螺旋体伯氏疏螺旋体感染。尽管这些螺旋体在这些动物身上未引起任何明显的疾病迹象，但它们确实引发了全身性感染。感染后的前6天出现螺旋体血症。感染后14天，可从以下一个或多个器官分离出螺旋体：脾脏、眼睛、肾脏、肝脏、睾丸和大脑。在感染后52天，从一只动物的眼睛和肾脏中分离出了螺旋体，这表明这些生物体可能会引起持续性感染。伯氏疏螺旋体的毒力通过动物传代得以维持，但在长时间体外培养后会丧失。
