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Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia
Published on: November 25, 2022
A case report of relapsing fever
Atul R Aher1, Harshada Shah, Vichal Rastogi
1Department of Microbiology, People's College of Medical Science and Research Centre, Bhopal, India. atulaher@hotmail.com
Indian Journal of Pathology & Microbiology
|July 8, 2008
Summary
This study discusses a rare case of relapsing fever, an illness characterized by recurring fevers caused by Borrelia bacteria. The patient, a 50-year-old woman, experienced relapsing fever with low platelet counts and was successfully treated with doxycycline.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Relapsing fever is an acute febrile illness caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia.
- Characterized by recurrent episodes of high fever that spontaneously resolve and return.
- Often associated with specific geographic regions and tick or louse vectors.
Observation:
- A case report of a 50-year-old woman presenting with symptoms of relapsing fever.
- The patient exhibited thrombocytopenia, a condition involving abnormally low platelet counts.
- Peripheral blood smear analysis revealed spiral organisms consistent with Borrelia species.
Findings:
- Identification of Borrelia spirochetes in the peripheral blood smear of the patient.
- Successful treatment of relapsing fever and associated thrombocytopenia with doxycycline.
- Highlights a rare presentation of relapsing fever with hematological complications.
Implications:
- Doxycycline is an effective treatment for this rare form of relapsing fever.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering Borrelia infection in febrile illnesses, especially with hematological abnormalities.
- Contributes to the understanding of Borrelia epidemiology and clinical manifestations.
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