Epidemiology of Relapsing Fever Borreliae in Uganda

Jesca Nakayima; Celsus Sente

Authors

Jesca Nakayima National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), P.O. Box 5704, Nakyesasa, Wakiso, UGANDA
Celsus Sente College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, UGANDA

Keywords:

Borrelia, Ticks, Lice, Relapsing fever, Uganda

Abstract

Borrelia spp. include the agents of Lyme disease and the relapsing fever group; tickborne and louse-borne relapsing fever in humans and animals. They are Gram-negative spirochaetes. There are 42 species in the Borrelia genus: 21 in the tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF) group, 20 in the Lyme-Borreliosis (LB) group, and one (B. turcica) associated with reptiles with unknown pathology in wildlife, domestic animals, or humans. The LB groups are split into B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s. s.) causes disease in both humans and animals and B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.) mainly causes disease in humans. Relapsing fever borreliae are a group of ectoparasite-borne, fastidious bacteria causing a variety of febrile presentations, notably malaria-like symptoms. Borrelia spirochetes transmit to humans tick-borne endemic relapsing fever (TBRF) and lice-borne epidemic relapsing fever. East African Relapsing Fever Borrelia spp. includes: endemic East African tick-borne relapsing fever Borrelia duttonii spirochetes and epidemic louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) B. recurrentis spirochetes. The management of febrile illnesses represents a big challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Until recently most of them were considered as malaria. However, it was shown that a large part of non-malarial febrile diseases in African rural regions may be caused by tick-borne infections. Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for many infectious diseases like Rickettsia (spotted fevers), Borrelia (relapsing fevers), Anaplasma, Ehrlichia (ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis) and Coxiella burnetii (Q fever). As in other sub-Saharan African countries, tick-borne diseases may be considered as a health care problem in Uganda.

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