Tick-borne relapsing fever caused by Borrelia hermsii, Montana.
Five persons contracted tick-borne relapsing fever after staying in a cabin in western Montana. Borrelia hermsii was isolated from the blood of two patients, and Ornithodoros hermsi ticks were collected from the cabin, the first demonstration of this bacterium and tick in Montana. Relapsing fever should be considered when patients who reside or have vacationed in western Montana exhibit a recurring febrile illness.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001898:Borrelia / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009009:Montana / Q000453:epidemiology; D026861:Ornithodoros / Q000382:microbiology*; D012061:Relapsing Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology