Passage of Borrelia burgdorferi through diverse Ixodid hard ticks causes distinct diseases: Lyme borreliosis and Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome

Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome is an emerging, tick-borne, infectious disease recently discovered in Brazil. This syndrome is similar to Lyme disease, which is common in the United States of America, Europe and Asia; however, Brazilian borreliosis diverges from the disease observed in the Northern Hemisphere in its epidemiological, microbiological, laboratory and clinical characteristics. Polymerase chain reaction procedures showed that Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto spirochete. This bacterium has not yet been isolated or cultured in adequate culture media. In Brazil, this zoonosis is transmitted to humans through the bite of Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus genera ticks; these vectors do not belong to the usual Lyme disease transmitters, which are members of the Ixodes ricinus complex. The adaptation of Borrelia burgdorferi to Brazilian vectors and reservoirs probably originated from spirochetes with atypical morphologies (cysts or cell-wall-deficient bacteria) exhibiting genetic adjustments, such as gene suppression. These particularities could explain the protracted survival of these bacteria in hosts, beyond the induction of a weak immune response and the emergence of serious reactive symptoms. The aim of the present report is to note differences between Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome and Lyme disease, to help health professionals recognize this exotic and neglected zoonosis.

Community Knowledge; Attitudes and Practices Related to Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever in Dodoma Rural District; Central Tanzania

Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) is a vector-borne disease of humans which causes serious illness; primarily for children under five years old and pregnant women. Understanding people's knowledge; attitude and practices on the disease is important in designing appropriate interventions. This study was conducted to explore community knowledge; attitudes and practices regarding TBRF transmission and control to provide baseline data for the planned scaling up of intervention in Dodoma rural District in central Tanzania. A total of 198 heads of households were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Of these; 94.5were aware of TBRF. Fever of unknown origin (69.5); body pain (8.5); headache (8.5); chills (4.5) and vomiting (3.5) were the most commonly mentioned symptoms. The domestic tick-infestation and tickbites was known to 82.8. High domestic tick infestation reported to occur during dry season (85.4). The majority believed that the disease spreads through tick-bites (85.9). Regular plastering of house floors and walls was the most common method used by the community to control domestic tick infestation (96.5). Majority (84.3) of the respondents preferred public healthcare facilities for treatment. Only a small proportion (15.7) preferred using traditional medicines. Poor knowledge of the study subjects about the disease and its control underscores the need for health educational campaigns if any control and/or elimination programme is to succeed