@article{fdi:010057268,
  title = {{E}pidemiology of tick-borne borreliosis in {M}orocco},
  author = {{D}iatta, {G}. and {S}ouidi, {Y}. and {G}ranjon, {L}aurent and {A}rnathau, {C}. and {D}urand, {P}. and {C}hauvancy, {G}illes and {M}ane, {Y}. and {S}arih, {M}. and {B}elghyti, {D}. and {R}enaud, {F}. and {T}rape, {J}ean-{F}ran{\c{c}}ois},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {T}he presence in {M}orocco of {A}rgasid ticks of the {O}rnithodoros erraticus complex, the vector of tick-borne relapsing fever ({TBRF}) in {N}orth {A}frica, has been known since 1919, but the disease is rarely diagnosed and few epidemiological data are available. {M}ethodology/{P}rincipal {F}indings: {B}etween 2006 and 2011, we investigated the presence of {O}rnithodoros ticks in rodent burrows in 34 sites distributed across {M}orocco. {W}e also collected small mammals in 10 sites and we investigated {TBRF} in febrile patients in {K}enitra district. {T}he prevalence of {B}orrelia infections was assessed by nested {PCR} amplification in ticks and the brain tissue of small mammals, and by evaluation of thick blood films in patients. {A} high proportion of burrows were infested with ticks of the {O}. erraticus complex in all regions of {M}orocco, with a mean of 39.5% for the whole country. {B}orrelia infections were found in 39/382 (10.2%) of the ticks and 12/140 (8.6%) of the rodents and insectivores studied by {PCR} amplification, and 102 patients tested positive by thick blood film. {F}ive small mammalian species were found infected: {D}ipodillus campestris, {M}eriones shawi, {G}erbillus hoogstrali, {G}erbillus occiduus and {A}telerix algirus. {T}hree {B}orrelia species were identified in ticks and/or rodents: {B}. hispanica, {B}. crocidurae and {B}. merionesi. {C}onclusions/{S}ignificance: {T}ick populations belonging to {O}. erraticus complex are widely distributed in {M}orocco and a high proportion of ticks and small mammals are infected by {B}orrelia species. {A}lthough rarely diagnosed, {TBRF} may be a common cause of morbidity in all regions of {M}orocco.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {6},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {e1810},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0001810},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010057268},
}