Borrelia recurrentis

Borrelia recurrentis
Scientific classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Spirochaetes
Order: Spirochaetales
Family: Spirochaetaceae
Genus: Borrelia
Species: B. recurrentis

Borrelia recurrentis is a species of Borrelia, a spirochaete bacterium associated with relapsing fever.[1][2] B. recurrentis is usually transmitted from person to person by the human body louse.[3] It has been known since the 1800s that the only known vector of B. recurrentis has been the body louse. [4]

A 2011 study found B. recurrentis DNA in 23% of head lice from patients with louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopia. Whether head lice can transmit these bacteria from one person to another remains to be determined. [5]

It is notable for its ability to alter the proteins expressed on its surface. This is what causes the "relapsing" characteristic of relapsing fever.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Cutler SJ, Moss J, Fukunaga M, Wright DJ, Fekade D, Warrell D (October 1997). "Borrelia recurrentis characterization and comparison with relapsing-fever, Lyme-associated, and other Borrelia spp". International journal of systematic bacteriology 47 (4): 958–68. doi:10.1099/00207713-47-4-958. PMID 9336893.
  2. ↑ Meri T, Cutler SJ, Blom AM, Meri S, Jokiranta TS (July 2006). "Relapsing fever spirochetes Borrelia recurrentis and B. duttonii acquire complement regulators C4b-binding protein and factor H". Infection and immunity 74 (7): 4157–63. doi:10.1128/IAI.00007-06. PMC 1489703. PMID 16790790.
  3. ↑ Madigan, Michael T.; Martinko, John M. (2006). Brock biology of microorganisms. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. p. 410. ISBN 0-13-144329-1.
  4. ↑ Boutellis A, Mediannikov O, Bilcha KD, Ali J, Campelo D, Barker SC, et al. Borrelia recurrentis in head lice, Ethiopia. Emerg Infect Dis [Internet]. 2013 May [May 13, 2013]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1905.121480 DOI: 10.3201/eid1905.121480.
  5. ↑ Boutellis A, Mediannikov O, Bilcha KD, Ali J, Campelo D, Barker SC, et al. Borrelia recurrentis in head lice, Ethiopia. Emerg Infect Dis [Internet]. 2013 May [May 13, 2013]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1905.121480 DOI: 10.3201/eid1905.121480.
  6. ↑ Fisher, Bruce; Harvey, Richard P.; Strohl, William A.; Champe, Pamela C. (2007). Lippincott's Illustrated reviews, microbiology. Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 166. ISBN 0-7817-8215-5.