[Tick-borne relapsing fever : An unrecognized cause of fever in travellers]

Abstract

Introduction: Tick-borne relapsing fever is a usual cause of fever in West Africa. Except relapsing febrile episodes, there are no pathognomonic signs and diagnosis is difficult because Borrelia density in patient's blood is low.

Case reports: Tick-borne relapsing fever was revealed by the presence of spirochetes in a blood sample to search malaria in two men, 24 and 31 year-old, returned from Mali.

Conclusion: This diagnosis should be evocated in patients having fever after a trip in infested area, as malaria, both infections can be associated.

Keywords: Borrelia crocidurae; Borreliacrocidurae; Fièvre récurrente; Relapsing fever; borreliosis; borréliose; fever in the returned traveller; fièvre du voyageur; maladie transmise par les tiques; tick-borne disease.