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Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia
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Humans infected with relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi, Russia

Alexander E Platonov1, Ludmila S Karan, Nadezhda M Kolyasnikova

  • 1Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|October 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Borrelia miyamotoi causes influenza-like illness and sometimes relapsing fever or Lyme disease symptoms. This tick-borne pathogen is prevalent in Russia and potentially worldwide.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Entomology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Borrelia miyamotoi, a distant relative of Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted by hard-bodied ticks.
  • Understanding the prevalence and clinical impact of B. miyamotoi is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report cases of B. miyamotoi infection in humans.
  • To compare B. miyamotoi infections with those caused by B. garinii and B. burgdorferi.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case analysis of 46 human infections.
  • Comparison of clinical manifestations and epidemiological data.

Main Results:

  • 46 patients in Russia presented with influenza-like illness, high fever (up to 39.5°C).
  • Relapsing febrile illness occurred in 11% and erythema migrans in 9% of cases.
  • B. miyamotoi infection rates in Ixodes persulcatus ticks ranged from 1% to 16%.

Conclusions:

  • B. miyamotoi infection can cause relapsing fever and Lyme disease-like symptoms.
  • Widespread prevalence in tick vectors suggests potential Holarctic distribution of B. miyamotoi.
  • Further research is needed to understand the full clinical spectrum and geographic range.

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