title: Louse-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis) in asylum seekers from Eritrea, the Netherlands, July 2015.
abstract: Two patients from Eritrea, recently arrived in the Netherlands, presented with fever and were investigated for malaria. Bloodfilms showed spirochetes but no blood parasites. Louse-borne relapsing fever caused by Borrelia recurrentis was diagnosed. Treatment was complicated by severe Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions in both patients. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of B. recurrentis infection in migrant populations who travel under crowded conditions, especially after passing through endemic areas such as Ethiopia and neighbouring countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Wilting
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stienstra
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braks
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cornish
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grundmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001898:Borrelia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D019017:Eritrea; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010374:Pediculus / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012061:Relapsing Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D004318:Doxycycline