Relapsing Fever-like

Species

Spirochete
bacterial

Transmission time

A cycle of symptoms appearing and disappearing begins within 2 weeks of exposure.
Symptoms last 3-5 days of symptoms before they disappear for 1-2 weeks. They then reappear for another 3-5 days.
The cycle continues until treatment and could occur up to 10 ten times over several weeks or months.
Symptoms include:
- Chills, sweats, headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, fever
- Joint and muscle pain
- Disorientation, loss of memory and lack of coordination
Low platelet count and kidney dysfunction are possible symptoms.
Meningoencephalitis and other central nervous system symptoms may occur if left untreated.

A nonspecific ELISA test can detect antibodies specific for Borrelia miyamotoi as early as 1 week after infection.
Western blot assay is used to confirm ELISA results.
When symptoms are present, a thin or thick blood smear may show infection.
Borrelia miyamotoi DNA in serum can be confirmed via Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Adults: Doxycycline 100mg- 2x daily, Cefuroxime axetil 500mg- 2x daily, or Amoxicillin 500mg- 3x daily for 10-21 days
Children: Doxycycline 4mg/kg divided into 2 doses daily, Cefuroxime axetil 30mg/kg divided into 2 doses daily, or Amoxicillin 50mg/kg divided into 2 doses daily for 10-21 days

Borrelia miyamotoi enters the hosts blood stream, affecting multiple organs.
Symptoms are reduced temporarily when the immune system creates antibodies against the surface of the pathogen.
Surviving Borrelia miyamotoi cells will change their surface so the immune system can’t recognize them.
Symptoms will appear again after Borrelia miyamotoi replicates and spreads.
New antibodies are created and symptoms are reduced.
Remaining bacterial cells will change their surface again and the cycle continues until the patient is treated with antibiotics.