Borrelia crocidurae meningoencephalitis, West Africa

Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Feb;19(2):301-4. doi: 10.3201/eid1902.121325.

Abstract

Borrelia crocidurae-associated relapsing fever is endemic to West Africa and is considered benign. We report 4 patients with B. crocidurae-associated neurologic symptoms; 2 of their cases had been misdiagnosed. Frequency and severity of this disease could be underestimated; molecular methods and serodiagnostic tests for Lyme disease might be helpful in its detection.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Borrelia / genetics*
  • Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Endemic Diseases*
  • Female
  • France
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningoencephalitis / drug therapy
  • Meningoencephalitis / epidemiology
  • Meningoencephalitis / microbiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Relapsing Fever / drug therapy
  • Relapsing Fever / epidemiology
  • Relapsing Fever / microbiology*
  • Senegal / epidemiology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Travel

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Doxycycline