Tick-borne relapsing fever in the white mountains, Arizona, USA, 2013–2018

Neema Mafi; Hayley D. Yaglom; Craig Levy; Anissa Taylor; Catherine O’grad; Heather Venkat; Kenneth K. Komatsu; Brentin Roller; Maria T. Seville; Shimon Kusne; John Leander Po; Shannon Thorn; Neil M. Ampel

doi:10.3201/eid2504.181369

Tick-borne relapsing fever in the white mountains, Arizona, USA, 2013–2018

Neema Mafi, Hayley D. Yaglom, Craig Levy, Anissa Taylor, Catherine O’grad, Heather Venkat, Kenneth K. Komatsu, Brentin Roller, Maria T. Seville, Shimon Kusne, John Leander Po, Shannon Thorn, Neil M. Ampel

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites that occurs in several different parts of the world, including the western United States. We describe 6 cases of TBRF acquired in the White Mountains of Arizona, USA, and diagnosed during 2013–2018. All but 1 case-patient had recurrent fever, and some had marked laboratory abnormalities, including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated aminotransaminases. One patient had uveitis. Diagnosis was delayed in 5 of the cases; all case-patients responded to therapy with doxycycline. Two patients had Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. The White Mountains of Arizona have not been previously considered a region of high incidence for TBRF. These 6 cases likely represent a larger number of cases that might have been undiagnosed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	649-653
Number of pages	5
Journal	Emerging infectious diseases
Volume	25
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2504.181369
State	Published - Apr 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Epidemiology
Microbiology (medical)
Infectious Diseases

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@article{22031827e52346279a4fe1677a513822,

title = "Tick-borne relapsing fever in the white mountains, Arizona, USA, 2013–2018",

abstract = "Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites that occurs in several different parts of the world, including the western United States. We describe 6 cases of TBRF acquired in the White Mountains of Arizona, USA, and diagnosed during 2013–2018. All but 1 case-patient had recurrent fever, and some had marked laboratory abnormalities, including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated aminotransaminases. One patient had uveitis. Diagnosis was delayed in 5 of the cases; all case-patients responded to therapy with doxycycline. Two patients had Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. The White Mountains of Arizona have not been previously considered a region of high incidence for TBRF. These 6 cases likely represent a larger number of cases that might have been undiagnosed.",

author = "Neema Mafi and Yaglom, \{Hayley D.\} and Craig Levy and Anissa Taylor and Catherine O{\textquoteright}grad and Heather Venkat and Komatsu, \{Kenneth K.\} and Brentin Roller and Seville, \{Maria T.\} and Shimon Kusne and Po, \{John Leander\} and Shannon Thorn and Ampel, \{Neil M.\}",

year = "2019",

month = apr,

doi = "10.3201/eid2504.181369",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "25",

pages = "649--653",

journal = "Emerging infectious diseases",

issn = "1080-6040",

publisher = "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)",

number = "4",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Tick-borne relapsing fever in the white mountains, Arizona, USA, 2013–2018

AU - Mafi, Neema

AU - Yaglom, Hayley D.

AU - Levy, Craig

AU - Taylor, Anissa

AU - O’grad, Catherine

AU - Venkat, Heather

AU - Komatsu, Kenneth K.

AU - Roller, Brentin

AU - Seville, Maria T.

AU - Kusne, Shimon

AU - Po, John Leander

AU - Thorn, Shannon

AU - Ampel, Neil M.

PY - 2019/4

Y1 - 2019/4

N2 - Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites that occurs in several different parts of the world, including the western United States. We describe 6 cases of TBRF acquired in the White Mountains of Arizona, USA, and diagnosed during 2013–2018. All but 1 case-patient had recurrent fever, and some had marked laboratory abnormalities, including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated aminotransaminases. One patient had uveitis. Diagnosis was delayed in 5 of the cases; all case-patients responded to therapy with doxycycline. Two patients had Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. The White Mountains of Arizona have not been previously considered a region of high incidence for TBRF. These 6 cases likely represent a larger number of cases that might have been undiagnosed.

AB - Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites that occurs in several different parts of the world, including the western United States. We describe 6 cases of TBRF acquired in the White Mountains of Arizona, USA, and diagnosed during 2013–2018. All but 1 case-patient had recurrent fever, and some had marked laboratory abnormalities, including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated aminotransaminases. One patient had uveitis. Diagnosis was delayed in 5 of the cases; all case-patients responded to therapy with doxycycline. Two patients had Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. The White Mountains of Arizona have not been previously considered a region of high incidence for TBRF. These 6 cases likely represent a larger number of cases that might have been undiagnosed.

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AN - SCOPUS:85063285435

SN - 1080-6040

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EP - 653

JO - Emerging infectious diseases

JF - Emerging infectious diseases

IS - 4

ER -

Tick-borne relapsing fever in the white mountains, Arizona, USA, 2013–2018

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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