An evaluation of media for transport of tissues infected with Borrelia burgdorferi.

Currently, the best medium for culture of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, is Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK), or its modifications. This medium is complex, expensive, and laborious to prepare. A recent report suggested that a less expensive and simpler medium, hypertonic Columbia broth, might be useful as a transport medium for human tissues infected with B burgdorferi. To test this observation, hypertonic Columbia broth, Amies broth, distilled water, physiologic saline, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and modified Stuart medium were compared with BSK II as transport media, using ear and tail tissue samples from B burgdorferi-infected laboratory mice and using holding times and temperatures simulating actual transport conditions. The results showed BSK II to be markedly superior to the other media tested, although B burgdorferi remained viable in a few tissue samples held at room temperature in hypertonic Columbia broth, physiologic saline, or PBS for up to 2 days. Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly II continues to be the best medium for transport of tissues infected with B burgdorferi.