Borrelia recurrentis in Head Lice, Ethiopia

Abstract

Since the 1800s, the only known vector of Borrelia recurrentis has been the body louse. In 2011, we found B. recurrentis DNA in 23% of head lice from patients with louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopia. Whether head lice can transmit these bacteria from one person to another remains to be determined.

Keywords

• Borrelia recurrentis
• Bartonella quintana
• relapsing fever
• trench fever
• head lice
• Ethiopia