Relapsing Fever Caused by Borrelia lonestari after Tick Bite in Alabama, USA

Abstract

We report an immunocompromised patient in Alabama, USA, 75 years of age, with relapsing fevers and pancytopenia who had spirochetemia after a tick bite. We identified Borrelia lonestari by using PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Increasing clinical availability of molecular diagnostics might identify B. lonestari as an emerging tickborne pathogen.

Keywords

• Borrelia lonestari
• relapsing fever
• tick
• bacteria
• parasites
• vector-borne infections