Antibiotic-Enhanced Phagocytosis of 'Borrelia recurrentis' by Blood Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

摘要

The removal of Borrelia spirochetes from the blood in relapsing fever was studied by examining patients' blood phagocytic cells with the Dieterle silver stain. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes ingested Borreliae at increased rates for several hours after antibiotic treatment, during which time the total numbers of circulating plasma spirochetes were decreasing. Incubation of infected blood at 37 C for 2 hours resulted in a progressive increase in phagocytosis. Addition of penicillin G and tetracycline to infected blood caused a further enhancement of phagocytosis. Electron microscopy of polymorphonuclear leukocytes revealed spirochetes in phagosomes. This antibiotic-enhanced phagocytosis of Borreliae by blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes has not been described in other bacterial infections and may explain, in part, the mechanism of the Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reaction after treatment of relapsing fever. (Author)