In vitro culture is a direct detection method for the presence of living bacteria. This protocol describes methods for the culture of diverse Borrelia spirochetes, including those of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, relapsing fever Borrelia species, and Borrelia miyamotoi. These species are fastidious and slow growing but can be cultured.
Berthold, A., Faucillion, M., Nilsson, I., Golovchenko, M., Lloyd, V., Bergström, S., Rudenko, N. Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia. J. Vis. Exp. (189), e64431, doi:10.3791/64431 (2022).