In Vitro Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Borrelia Isolates from Erythema Migrans Lesion of Lyme Disease Patients in Japan

Abstract

Antibiotic susceptibilities of twelve borrelial isolates from skin of patients with erythema migrans (EM) and ticks (Ixodes persulcatus and I. ovatus) in Japan were examined by in vitro microdilution MIC method and macrodilution MBC method. Nine EM isolates and 3 tick isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin, erythromycin, and minocycline. MICs for Japanese isolates were 0.038-0.30μg/ml, <0.012μg/ml, and <0.012-0.05μg/ml, respectively. MBCs were as follows: 0.038-0.88μg/ml, <0.012-0.10μg/ml, and <0.025-0.78μg/ml, respectively. These antibiotics could be recommended for treatment of patients in early stage of Lyme disease in Japan.