Borrelia recurrentis; louse-borne relapsing fever; epidemic relapsing fever

Epidemiology: - body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) is a vector - lice that feed on infected humans acquire B recurrentis that subsequently multiply in the gut of the louse - when an infected louse feeds on an uninfected human, B recurrentis gains access when the victim crushes the louse or scratches the area where the louse is feeding - B recurrentis then invades the bloodstream - no animal reservoir exists. - epidemic in poor living conditions, famine, war - prevalent in Ethiopia & Sudan Clinical manifestations: - generally more severe than tick-borne relapsing fever (Lyme disease) - jaundice - mental status changes - hemorrhage Special laboratory: - electrocardiogram - prolonged QT interval portends poor prognosis Complications: - mortality ~ 1% with treatment & 30-70% without treatment Management: - tetracyclines are most effective - in about 1/2 of treated patients, a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurs - TNF-alpha may be resposible

Related

borreliosis (relapsing fever) louse (Anoplura)-borne infection

Properties

KINGDOM: monera DIVISION: SCHIZOMYCETES

References

Wikipedia: Relapsing fever http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relapsing_fever