Short report:: A doxycycline hyclate rodent bait formulation for prophylaxis and treatment of tick-transmitted Borrelia burgdorferi

The prophylactic and curative potential of doxycycline hyclate formulated in a rodent bait at concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/Kg was evaluated in a murine model of Lyme borreliosis. Both bait formulations prevented tick-transmitted Borrelia burgdorferi infection in 100% of C3H/HeJ mice (N = 16), as well as cured acute, established infection in mice (N = 8) exposed to bait for 14 days. Spirochete infection was cleared in 88.9% to 100% of infected nymphs feeding on mice fed 250 and 500 mg/Kg antibiotic bait formulations, respectively. These data provide evidence for exploring alternative techniques to prevent transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes.