Maternal transfer of neutralizing antibodies to OspA after oral vaccination of the rodent reservoir

Lyme Disease presents unique challenges for public health efforts. We hypothesized that transfer of protective antibodies between mothers and offspring should occur after oral vaccination of C3H-HeN mice with E. coli overexpressing OspA. We present new evidence for maternal transfer of vaccine induced neutralizing anti-OspA IgG antibodies to mouse pups through ingestion of colostrum. Protective levels of OspA antibodies in pups were present from 2-5 weeks after birth and they persisted in some mice until 9 weeks of age. This was corroborated by detection of neutralizing antibodies in the serum of all pups at 2-3 weeks after birth and in some mice at 9 weeks of age. A clear association was found between robust antibody responses in mothers and the length of antibody persistence in the respective pups using a novel longitudinal Bayesian model. These factors are likely to impact the enzootic cycle of B. burgdorferi when reservoir targeted OspA-based vaccination interventions are implemented.