Borrelia miyamotoi: a recently identified human pathogenic tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete

Abstract

Borrelia miyamotoi is a recently described relapsing fever spirochete transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. This pathogen is different from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (the Lyme borreliosis spirochetes) in its epidemiology, ecology and also genetics. Over 50 patients have been described worldwide with Borrelia miyamotoi disease, and three immunocompromised patients were reported with neurological symptoms. Our knowledge about Borrelia miyamotoi infection in ticks and its distribution in different habitats and also the mechanism of the infection is limited. The most common symptom is fever; thus it can be easily confused with other tick-borne diseases. Due to the intensive research in recent years, Borrelia miyamotoi infection in ticks and hosts has been reported from different regions and also the number of patients is increasing, thus this bacterium is considered as an emerging pathogen. In this literature review we would like to summarize the available knowledge about this spirochete. Orv Hetil. 2017, 158(29): 1124-1130.