What is it about?
The paper reports the discovery of a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia miyamotoi, which can cause a relapsing fever, was detected in rodents and ticks in northern Thailand few years back. Although the bacterium has not been found in humans at the time, but this current study shows it could potentially infect humans in the study area since serological tests have shown that both humans and rodents have antibodies to the bacterium, indicating that they have been exposed to it.
Featured Image
Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This discovery is important because it suggests that people in the area could be at risk of infection, and further study is needed to determine how it is transmitted and how to prevent it. Borrelia has not been officially recognized by Thailand's public health organization as a reportable disease. However, the evidence of human exposure reported in this study should alert national healthcare providers to the possibility of its presence.
Perspectives
Since the initial discovery of this bacterium in northern Thailand, our team has embarked on a broader investigation into its distribution throughout the country and the extent of human infection. Our studies have revealed evidence of human exposure to the disease in the areas we examined, suggesting that it could be present in other regions where the bacterium or a potential tick vector are present. The findings from this study have significant implications for public health organizations in the country, and we hope to draw attention to the presence of relapsing fever throughout regional public health sectors. Our goal is to increase awareness so that efforts can be made to prevent and manage potential outbreaks.
Ratree Takhampunya
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Borrelia miyamotoi a neglected tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete in Thailand, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, February 2023, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011159.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
