Pathogenesis (disease development)
Relapsing fever is an infectious disease caused by pathogens of the genus Borrelia. The following species can be distinguished:
- Borrelia recurrentis – causative agent of European relapsing fever, epidemic relapsing fever (lice relapsing fever; A68.0).
- Borrelia duttonii, Borrelia hispanica, Borrelia latyschewii, Borrelia persica, Borrelia mazottii, etc. – causative agent of tick-borne relapsing fever (A68.1) or endemic relapsing fever.
Tick-borne relapsing fever is transmitted by the clothes louse (Peduculus humanus corporis) when its infected secretion reaches the skin. Tick relapsing fever is transmitted by soft ticks (genus Ornithodorus).
Etiology (Causes)
Behavioral causes
- Lice-borne fever: poor hygienic conditions (inadequate housing, clothing, and personal hygiene), especially in war and disaster situations
- Tick relapse fever: stay in tick habitats.
