Relapsing fever in a traveller from Senegal: determination of Borrelia species using molecular methods

Tordini, Giacinta; Giaccherini, R.; Corbisiero, R; Zanelli, Giacomo

doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.11.002

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Most of these approaches have been used to identify spirochetes in people living in or having traveled to endemic areas of West Africa [29], [66]–[70]. The clinical diagnostic approach has merit but eliminates the potential to gain more genetic and biological information had these spirochetes been isolated in culture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic Foci of the Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia crocidurae in Mali, West Africa, and the Potential for Human Infection

et al. 2012

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BackgroundTick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes are maintained in endemic foci that involve a diversity of small mammals and argasid ticks in the genus Ornithodoros. Most epidemiological studies of tick-borne relapsing fever in West Africa caused by Borrelia crocidurae have been conducted in Senegal. The risk for humans to acquire relapsing fever in Mali is uncertain, as only a few human cases have been identified. Given the high incidence of malaria in Mali, and the potential to confuse the clinical diagnosis of these two diseases, we initiated studies to determine if there were endemic foci of relapsing fever spirochetes that could pose a risk for human infection.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe investigated 20 villages across southern Mali for the presence of relapsing fever spirochetes. Small mammals were captured, thin blood smears were examined microscopically for spirochetes, and serum samples were tested for antibodies to relapsing fever spirochetes. Ornithodoros sonrai ticks were collected and examined for spirochetal infection. In total, 11.0% of the 663 rodents and 14.3% of the 63 shrews tested were seropositive and 2.2% of the animals had active spirochete infections when captured. In the Bandiagara region, the prevalence of infection was higher with 35% of the animals seropositive and 10% infected. Here also Ornithodoros sonrai were abundant and 17.3% of 278 individual ticks tested were infected with Borrelia crocidurae. Fifteen isolates of B. crocidurae were established and characterized by multi-locus sequence typing.Conclusions/SignificanceThe potential for human tick-borne relapsing fever exists in many areas of southern Mali.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic Foci of the Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia crocidurae in Mali, West Africa, and the Potential for Human Infection

et al. 2012

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“…The spread of the vector and the disease in West Africa is related to the spread of drought, where the average rainfall is less than 750 mm 4. Since 1999, six imported cases have been reported in travellers from Senegal,9 , 10 , 15 Gambia,10 Mali and Mauritania 7. Clinical presentation was a flu-like syndrome,9 , 10 , 15 febrile diarrhoea and fever with premature birth7 and meningitis 10.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 1999, six imported cases have been reported in travellers from Senegal,9 , 10 , 15 Gambia,10 Mali and Mauritania 7. Clinical presentation was a flu-like syndrome,9 , 10 , 15 febrile diarrhoea and fever with premature birth7 and meningitis 10. TBRF is characterised by recurrent episodes of fever that accompany spirochetemia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clinical manifestations appear suddenly 3–12 days after exposure with high temperature, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain, non-productive cough and iritis. Physical examination can show conjunctivitis, splenomegaly and enlarged liver 9. Meningo-encephalitis, myocarditis accompanied by arrhythmia, and liver dysfunction are rare fatal complications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular identification of Borrelia crocidurae in a patient returning from Senegal

Million

Cazorla²,

Doudier³

et al. 2009

Case Reports

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Borrelia spp. are pathogens responsible for worldwide tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF). In West Africa, TBRF is due to a single species, Borrelia crocidurae, transmitted by the soft-body tick Ornithodoros sonrai. We report a case of B crocidurae infection in a French tourist in Senegal, diagnosed by molecular biology using 16S rDNA, flaB, and the 16S-23S intergenic spacer. We found six imported cases reported in travellers (since 1999). We review here clinical and molecular aspects and pathophysiology, and discuss diagnostic methods and therapeutic regimens. In the coming years, this emerging disease will be of concern to more and more travellers returning from disease-endemic regions. Thus, physicians must be aware of its presentation and diagnosis, since the spontaneous outcome can be severe, and a simple treatment is effective.

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“…21 Accordingly, B. crocidurae has in turn been detected in travelers returning from Senegal in both France 47,48 and Italy. 49 In Tunisia, B. crocidurae was documented by 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing in 15% of Ornithodoros erraticus ticks but not in human patients. 39 The B. crocidurae 16S rRNA gene sequence has also been identified in patients in Mali, Gambia, and Togo.…”

Section: Clinical Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relapsing Fever Borreliae in Africa

Elbir¹,

Raoult²,

Drancourt³

2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. The study of relapsing fever borreliae in Africa has long suffered from the use of non-specific laboratory tools for the direct detection of these spirochetes in clinical and vector specimens. Accordingly, Borrelia hispanica, Borrelia crocidurae, Borrelia duttonii, and Borrelia recurrentis have traditionally been distinguished on the basis of geography and vector and the unproven hypothesis that each species was exclusive to one vector. The recent sequencing of three relapsing fever Borrelia genomes in our laboratory prompted the development of more specific tools and a reappraisal of the epidemiology in Africa. Five additional potential species still need to be cultured from clinical and vector sources in East Africa to further assess their uniqueness. Here, we review the molecular evidence of relapsing fever borreliae in hosts and ectoparasites in Africa and explore the diversity, geographical distribution, and vector association of these pathogens for Africans and travelers to Africa.

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Relapsing fever in a traveller from Senegal: determination of Borrelia species using molecular methods

Cited by 13 publications

References 9 publications

Endemic Foci of the Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia crocidurae in Mali, West Africa, and the Potential for Human Infection

Endemic Foci of the Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia crocidurae in Mali, West Africa, and the Potential for Human Infection

Molecular identification of Borrelia crocidurae in a patient returning from Senegal

Relapsing Fever Borreliae in Africa

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