@article{fdi:010081435,
  title = {{T}ick-borne relapsing fever {B}orreliosis, a major public health problem overlooked in {S}enegal},
  author = {{N}diaye, {E}. {I}. and {D}iouf, {F}. {S}. and {N}diaye, {M}. and {B}assene, {H}ubert and {R}aoult, {D}. and {S}okhna, {C}heikh and {P}arola, {P}. and {D}iatta, {G}eorges},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {T}ick-borne relapsing fever ({TBRF}) is the most common vector-borne bacterial disease in humans in {W}est {A}frica. {I}t is frequently clinically confused with malaria. {O}ur study aims to determine, on a micro-geographic scale, the conditions for the maintenance and spread of {TBRF} in the {N}iakhar district of {S}enegal. {M}ethodology/{P}rincipal findings {W}e conducted clinical, entomological and animal reservoir investigations. {F}ield surveys were carried out in order to investigate the presence of {O}rnithodoros sonrai vector ticks and to detect {B}orrelia spp. by q{PCR} using the 16{S} r{RNA} and glp{Q} genes, respectively. {M}icromammal trapping series were carried out inside homes and {B}orrelia infection was detected using brain tissue q{PCR}. {C}apillary blood samples from febrile patients were also tested for {B}orrelia using q{PCR}. {M}ore than 97% (40/41) of the villages surveyed were infested with {O}. sonrai ticks. {T}he prevalence of {B}orrelia spp. infections in ticks was 13% (116/910), and over 73% (85/116) were positively confirmed as being {B}orrelia crocidurae. {B}orreliosis cases accounted for 12% (94/800) of episodes of fever and all age groups were infected, with children and young people between the ages of 8-14 and 22-28 being the most infected by the disease (16% and 18.4%). {TBRF} cases occurred in all seasons, with a peak in {A}ugust. {I}n two species of small rodents that were found to be infected ({A}rvicanthis niloticus, {M}us musculus), the proportion of {B}orrelia infection was 17.5% (10/57), and the highest prevalence of infection (40.9%, 9/22) was observed in {A}. niloticus. {C}onclusion/{S}ignificance {O}ur study indicates that {TBRF} is an endemic disease in the {N}iakhar district, where children and young people are the most infected. {A}rvicanthis niloticus and {O}. sonrai ticks are massively present and appear to be the main epidemiological reservoirs causing its extensive spread to humans. {A}uthor summary {T}ick-borne relapsing fever ({TBRF}), remains an overlooked and neglected disease in the management of febrile patients in {S}enegal. {T}he results of this study showed a high prevalence of rodent burrows infested with {O}. sonrai ticks (the vectors of the disease) inside human dwellings, with a common {B}orrelia infection affecting populations within the community in the {N}iakhar district of the {F}atick region of {S}enegal. {B}orrelia infection was detected in several rodents belonging to two species of small mammals. {I}n febrile patients studied in the area, all age groups were infected. {TBRF} cases were observed in all seasons. {I}n the similar context to that of malaria pre-elimination observed in {D}ielmo and {N}diop villages, {TBRF} appears to be the predominant cause of morbidity among febrile patients. {B}y extension, we believe this may be the same in many other endemic regions of the country which have not yet been clinically investigated. {TBRF} cases are probably undiagnosed in those endemic areas and are likely to be poorly managed in health posts and health centres.},
  keywords = {{SENEGAL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {e0009184 [16 ]},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0009184},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010081435},
}