[Ultrastructural characteristics of Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi) isolated from Ixodes persulcatus in China].

This paper analyzed morphological characteristics of Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi), isolated from Ixodes persulcatus from different areas of China, with scanning and transmissive electron microscopies. Cells of 8 strains were 8.4-36.0 microns long and 0.12-0.35 micron wide. There were 1-9 left-handed spires with wavelength of 1.09-4.30 microns and amplitude of 0.38-2.10 microns. Ends of the cells were pointed or spindle. 7, 8 or 9 flagella were inserted subterminally at each end of the cell. Inner structures of cells were no tubles. A few cells were at stage of division. These results showed that Ixodes persulcatus spirochetes possessed morphological characteristics of Borrelia burgdorferi and there were many types of morphological characteristics.