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Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2020 Sep 9;7(5). Epub 2020 Jul 9.

From the NYU Langone Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Centers (E.P., I.K., L.C., C.S., V.S., R.E.C., J.H., J.M.G., M.G., N.A.-F., R.W., M.K., L.B.K., L.Z.R.), New York, NY; and Cohen's Children Medical Center Northwell Health (C.F.-C.), Lake Success, NY.

Objective: To report outcomes on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness.

Methods: From March 16 to April 30, 2020, patients with MS or related disorders at NYU Langone MS Comprehensive Care Center were identified with laboratory-confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The diagnosis was established using a standardized questionnaire or by review of in-patient hospital records. Read More

Rev Paul Pediatr 2021 3;39:e2019290. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Objective: To describe the case of a child who presented hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated with acute monocytic leukemia after chemotherapy, with hemophagocytosis caused by leukemic cells.

Case Description: In a university hospital in Southern Brazil, a 3-year-old female was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia with normal karyotype. The chemotherapy regimen was initiated, and she achieved complete remission six months later, relapsing after four months with a complex karyotype involving chromosomes 8p and 16q. Read More

Vet Sci 2020 Jun 30;7(3). Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30601, USA.

The genus contains two major clades, the Lyme borreliosis group, which includes the causative agents of Lyme disease/borreliosis ( sensu stricto and other related sensu lato genospecies), and the relapsing fever borreliosis group ( and ). Other unclassified reptile- and echidna-associated spp. (i. Read More

Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2020 26;29(2):e000120. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Laboratorio de Parásitos y Enfermedades de Fauna Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile.

Small mammals play an essential role in the transmission and maintenance cycles of Borrelia spirochetes. In Chile, recent studies have characterized novel Borrelia genotypes in ticks collected from small mammals, a fact that suggests these vertebrates are hosts for spirochetes from this genus. Considering this evidence, the goal of this study was to determine the presence of Borrelia DNA in small mammals inhabiting northern Chile. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Jun 30;10(1):10596. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD) - Université de Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France.

Lyme disease (LD) and relapsing fevers (RF) are vector-borne diseases caused by bacteria of the Borrelia genus. Here, we report on the widespread infection by a non-described Borrelia species in passerine-associated ticks in tropical rainforests of French Guiana, South America. This novel Borrelia species is common in two tick species, Amblyomma longirostre and A. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2020 Jun 22;20(1):304. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, PO Box 9214, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.

Background: Chronic Non-Infectious Osteomyelitis (CNO) is a chronic, relapsing, self-limiting inflammation of the bone. Although it is rare, CNO has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease and frequently precedes the initial diagnosis. We present a case of CNO in a patient with known ulcerative colitis in clinical remission who presented with purulent multifocal joint effusions in the setting of elevated inflammatory markers and fever suspicious for bacterial osteomyelitis. Read More

CEN Case Rep 2020 Jun 13. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Urushiyama 860, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, 420-8660, Japan.

Rituximab (RTX) is an effective treatment for refractory nephrotic syndrome (NS), but may produce human anti-chimeric antibodies (HACA) which can cause severe infusion reaction or rituximab-induced serum sickness (RISS). RISS presents with a fever, rash, and arthralgia, which typically occurs 7-21 days after RTX infusion. On the other hand, Kawasaki disease (KD) also presents with fever and rash. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020 19;10:241. Epub 2020 May 19.

Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France.

Spirochetes of the genus are divided into relapsing fever borreliae and Lyme disease borreliae. Immunoserological assays have been poorly developed for relapsing fever borreliae, where direct detection methods are more adapted to the pathophysiology of these infections presenting with massive bacteraemia. However, emergence of the novel agent of relapsing fever has renewed interest in serology in this context. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020 5;10:152. Epub 2020 May 5.

Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.

Additional research on soft ticks in the family Argasidae is needed to bridge the knowledge gap relative to hard ticks of the family Ixodidae; especially, the molecular mechanisms of biology. species are vectors of human and animal pathogens that include tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes and African swine fever virus. Soft tick vector-pathogen interactions involving components of the tick immune response are not understood. Read More

Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2020 May 30;19(1):22. Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.

A series of cases in the Northeast of the US during 2013-2015 described a new Borrelia species, Borrelia miyamotoi, which is transmitted by the same tick species that transmits Lyme disease and causes a relapsing fever-like illness. The geographic expansion of B. miyamotoi in the US also extends to other Lyme endemic areas such as the Midwestern US. Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2020 Jan- Mar;32(1):124-126

Department of Medicine, Shalamar Hospital Lahore, Pakistan.

Behcet's disease (BD) presents as uncommon inflammatory disorder involving multiple systems, identified by longstanding relapsing path. Its chief manifestations are oral and genital ulcers together with involvement of the eyes, skin and joints. Neurological and vascular complications are significant. Read More

J Clin Microbiol 2020 May 26;58(6). Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

J Clin Microbiol 2020 May 26;58(6). Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2020 May 20;50(4):549-558. Epub 2020 May 20.

Rheumatology Unit, Department of Specialistic Medicine, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy; University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address:

Objective: To evaluate characteristics and predictors of relapses and long-term remission in an Italian cohort of patients with large-vessel (LV) giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: We evaluated 87 consecutive patients with LV-GCA followed up at the Rheumatology Unit of Reggio Emilia Hospital (Italy) for at least 2 years. Patients with relapses and long-term remission were compared to those without. Read More

United European Gastroenterol J 2020 May 21:2050640620929133. Epub 2020 May 21.

CEMAD - IBD UNIT - Unitá Operativa Complessa di Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, c Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a major clinical as well as organisational impact on the national health-care system in Italy, particularly in high-volume hospitals which are usually active for many essential clinical needs, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we report major clinical and organisational challenges at a high-volume Italian IBD centre one month after the start of the Italian government's restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All routine follow-up IBD visits of patients in remission were cancelled or rescheduled for 8-12 weeks' time. Read More

N Engl J Med 2020 05;382(21):2059-2061

Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Clin Nucl Med 2020 Jul;45(7):e327-e328

From the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.

We present a case of a 38-year-old woman who complained with cough, fever, and back pain with a weight loss. F-FDG PET/CT to search fever origin revealed uptake in the tracheobronchial and the left auricular cartilage and wall of the thoracic aorta. She underwent biopsy of the left auricle and was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis (RP) complicating vasculitis. Read More

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020 May 3;43:102151. Epub 2020 May 3.

Multiple Sclerosis Center "A. Cardarelli "Hospital, Naples, Italy; Neurological Clinic and Stroke Unit "A. Cardarelli "Hospital, Naples, Italy.

Background: Cladribine tablets were recently approved for the treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), reducing B cells and T cells, followed by reconstitution of the adaptive immune system, with transient and mild effects on the innate one. Cladribine is also the standard first-line and subsequent treatment for Hairy-Cell Leukemia (HCL), frequently complicated by neutropenic fever. Recombinant human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF; Filgrastim) has been proved to reduce neutropenia by increasing neutrophil count. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2020 05;42(5):644-653

Halifax, NS.

Objective: Lyme disease is an emerging infection in Canada caused by the bacterium belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex, which is transmitted via the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Populations of blacklegged ticks continue to expand and are now established in different regions in Canada. It usually takes more than 24 hours of tick attachment to transfer B. Read More

Front Microbiol 2020 21;11:690. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany.

The genus comprises vector-borne bacterial pathogens that can severely affect human and animal health. Members of the sensu lato species complex can cause Lyme borreliosis, one of the most common vector-borne diseases in the Northern hemisphere. Besides, members of the relapsing fever group of spirochetes can cause tick-borne relapsing fever in humans and various febrile illnesses in animals in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. Read More

Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2020 Jul 1;7(4). Epub 2020 May 1.

From the Center for Vaccinology (A.H., C.-A.S.), University of Geneva; Division of Infectious Diseases (A.H.), Geneva University Hospitals; Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine (G.E., J.-M.S.), Geneva University Hospitals; Department of Neurosciences (A.M.L., S.R., P.H.L.), Division of Neurology, Unit of Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals; Department of Pathology and Immunology (C.-A.S., P.H.L.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva; and Division of Laboratory Medicine (P.H.L.), Department of Diagnostic, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland.

Objective: To determine whether live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine (YFV) was associated with MS relapse, we evaluated the clinical courses of 23 patients in the year before and the year after immunization at the university hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.

Methods: This self-controlled retrospective cohort included adult patients with MS receiving YFV between 2014 and 2018 and defined the year before vaccination, the 3 months thereafter, and the 9 months following as the pre-exposure (PEP), exposure-risk (ERP), and postrisk (PRP) periods, respectively. The primary outcome was the relative incidence of relapse in the ERP vs the PEP. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2020 May;101(9):530-540

Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Family Medicine Residency Program, Camp Pendleton, CA, USA.

Tickborne diseases that affect patients in the United States include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, tularemia, Colorado tick fever, and tickborne relapsing fever. Tickborne diseases are increasing in incidence and should be suspected in patients presenting with flulike symptoms during the spring and summer months. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and death. Read More

BMC Neurol 2020 Apr 27;20(1):158. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Background: Fingolimod (Gilenya®), a first-in-class sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator is approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod-induced selective immunosuppression leads to an increased risk of opportunistic infections such as cryptococcosis. So far, a total of 8 cases of fingolimod-related cryptococcal meningoencephalitis have been published. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Apr 21;13(1):130. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, P.O. Box 12, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.

Introduction: Babesiosis is a protozoan tick-borne infection associated with anemia and life-threatening disease in humans, domestic and wildlife animals. Dogs are infected by at least six well-characterized Babesia spp. that cause clinical disease. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Apr 21;13(1):191. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

Background: Borrelia burgdorferi is a tick-borne spirochete that causes Lyme borreliosis (LB). After an initial tick bite, it spreads from the deposition site in the dermis to distant tissues of the host. It is generally believed that this spirochete disseminates via the hematogenous route. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2020 May;26(5):849-856

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is caused by spirochetes of Borrelia bacteria. We collected data on all TBRF cases in a TBRF-endemic area in southwest Spain during 1994-2016. We analyzed data from 98 patients in whom TBRF was diagnosed by light microscopy and analyzed the relationship between climatic data and TBRF incidence. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Apr 17;13(1):199. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

University of Strasbourg, Virulence bactérienne précoce UR7290-Lyme borreliosis group, FMTS - CHRU Strasbourg, Institut de Bactériologie, Strasbourg, France.

Background: Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever Borrelia species transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. Human disease caused by B. miyamotoi was first described in Russia and later in the USA and Japan. Read More

Healthcare (Basel) 2020 Apr 14;8(2). Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Union Square Medical Associates, 450 Sutter Street, Suite 1504, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA.

Background: With more than 300,000 new cases reported each year in the United States of America (USA), Lyme disease is a major public health concern. sensu stricto (Bbss) is considered the primary agent of Lyme disease in North America. However, multiple genetically diverse species encompassing the sensu lato (Bbsl) complex and the Relapsing Fever (RFB) group are capable of causing tickborne disease. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Apr 7;13(1):176. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.

Background: Ixodes ricinus constitutes the main European vector tick for the Lyme borreliosis pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), the relapsing fever borrelia Borrelia miyamotoi, as well as Anaplasma phagocytophilum and several Rickettsia species. Under laboratory conditions, a transovarial transmission to the next tick generation is described for Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. Read More

Microorganisms 2020 Mar 20;8(3). Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada.

The role of bats in the enzootic cycle of Lyme disease and relapsing fever-causing bacteria is a matter of speculation. In Canada, sensu stricto (ss) is the genospecies that is responsible for most cases of Lyme disease in humans. In this study, we determined if big brown bats, have been exposed to spirochetes from the genus . Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2020 Apr 1;8(2). Epub 2020 Apr 1.

UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.

Epigenetic mechanisms have not been characterized in ticks despite their importance as vectors of human and animal diseases worldwide. Our investigation identifies and functionally characterizes the orthologue of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) binding methyltransferase enzyme, disruptor of telomeric silencing 1-like (DOT1L) in Ornithodoros moubata (OmDOT1L), a soft tick vector for the relapsing fever pathogen Borrelia duttonii and the African swine fever virus. The OmDOT1L tertiary structure was predicted and compared to the Homo sapiens DOT1L which had been co-crystalized with SGC0946, a DOT1L-specific inhibitor. Read More

Clin Chem 2020 Apr;66(4):537-548

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Background: Tick-borne diseases are an important cause of human morbidity and mortality in the United States. The past several decades have witnessed an increase in both the number of recognized tick-borne pathogens and the number of tick-borne disease cases, whereas tick surveys have revealed substantial geographic expansions of tick populations throughout the country. Multiple laboratory testing options exist for diagnosis of tick-borne diseases, including serology, microscopy, and molecular-based methods. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Apr;26(4):648-657

Tickborne diseases are rare in Washington, USA, and the ecology of these pathogens is poorly understood. We integrated surveillance data from humans and ticks to better describe their epidemiology and ecology. During 2011-2016, a total of 202 tickborne disease cases were reported in Washington residents. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Apr;26(4):824-826

We report a case of tick-borne relapsing fever caused by Borrelia persica in a traveler returning to Switzerland from central Asia. After the disease was diagnosed by blood smear microscopy, the causative Borrelia species was confirmed by shotgun metagenomics sequencing. PCR and sequencing techniques provide highly sensitive diagnostic tools superior to microscopy. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2020 28;7:55. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Hôpital Universitaire Raymond Poincaré (Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris), Département d'Infectiologie, Université de Versailles - Saint Quentin, Paris-Saclay, Garches, France.

species are divided into three groups depending on the induced disease and the tick vector. is a relapsing fever but can induce symptoms related to Lyme disease. Discovered in 1995, it is found in ticks around the world. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 Jul 10;20(7):496-508. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

Vector-borne bacterial diseases represent a substantial public health burden and rodents have been recognized as important reservoir hosts for many zoonotic pathogens. This study investigates bacterial pathogens in a small mammal community of the southwestern United States of America. A total of 473 samples from 13 wild rodent and 1 lagomorph species were tested for pathogens of public health significance: , , , , spp. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2020 Mar 11. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY.

Important human infections caused by spirochetal microorganisms include Lyme disease, syphilis, leptospirosis, and tick-borne relapsing fever. Doxycycline prophylactic regimens have been shown to significantly reduce the risk for developing all of these infections in potentially exposed individuals, which is highly clinically relevant since no vaccines to prevent these infections in humans are currently available. Additional data, however, are needed to define more precisely the level of efficacy of the doxycycline prophylactic regimens, especially for Lyme disease and syphilis, infections that can be potentially prevented by a single 200 mg dose of doxycycline given within 72 hours post-exposure. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Feb 27;13(1):106. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17943, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.

Background: Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick species in Europe and the main vector for Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). It is involved also in the transmission of Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing fever spirochete that causes health disorders in humans. Little is known regarding the circulation of Borrelia species and the natural foci of TBEV in north-eastern Germany. Read More

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2020 7;13:145-164. Epub 2020 Feb 7.

Union Square Medical Associates, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Introduction: Morgellons disease (MD) is a contested dermopathy that is associated with spirochetal infection. A simple classification system was previously established to help validate the disease based on clinical features (classes I-IV).

Methods: Drawing on historical and pathological parallels with syphilis, we formulated a more detailed staging system based on clinical features as well as severity of skin lesions and corresponding histopathological infection patterns, as determined by anti- immunohistochemical staining. Read More

Neuroimmunomodulation 2020 Feb 26:1-6. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Key Laboratory of Oral Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Oral Disease, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to report 2 cases with overlapping syndromes in autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy.

Methods: Antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Patient data were analyzed retrospectively. Read More

Mult Scler 2020 Feb 21:1352458519895449. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Alemtuzumab is highly effective in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), but autoimmune adverse events are of concern. In contrast to rare cases of immune-mediated cutaneous vasculitis, systemic vasculitis after alemtuzumab has not yet been described. We report the case of a 29-year-old man with RRMS who developed fever, auricular chondritis, cutaneous vasculitis and life-threatening diffuse alveolar haemorrhage, 12 months after alemtuzumab. Read More

Viruses 2020 Feb 17;12(2). Epub 2020 Feb 17.

Laboratório de Vírus, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.

One patient presented hyporexia, asthenia, adynamia, and jaundice two months after acute yellow fever (YF) onset; plus laboratory tests indicating hepatic cytolysis and a rebound of alanine and aspartate transaminases, and total and direct bilirubin levels. Laboratory tests discarded autoimmune hepatitis, inflammatory or metabolic liver disease, and new infections caused by hepatotropic agents. Anti-YFV IgM, IgG and neutralizing antibodies were detected in different times, but no viremia. Read More

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020 May 31;40:101973. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD-52, used for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods: We present a case of a 44-year-old male with RRMS who was admitted due to fever and jaundice after starting treatment with alemtuzumab 12 months ago.

Results: He was diagnosed with hemophagocytic syndrome (HS). Read More

Rev Med Interne 2020 Jun 31;41(6):418-420. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Service de rhumatologie, Grand Hôpital de l'Est Francilien, site de Meaux, 6-8, rue Saint Fiacre, 77104 Meaux, France.

Introduction: Tick-borne relapsing fever is a usual cause of fever in West Africa. Except relapsing febrile episodes, there are no pathognomonic signs and diagnosis is difficult because Borrelia density in patient's blood is low.

Case Reports: Tick-borne relapsing fever was revealed by the presence of spirochetes in a blood sample to search malaria in two men, 24 and 31 year-old, returned from Mali. Read More

Intern Med 2020 Apr 1;59(8):1093-1097. Epub 2020 Feb 1.

Department of General Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

A 25-year-old woman had convulsions and disturbance of consciousness. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed punctate areas in the occipital lobes with increased signals on T2-weighted imaging. The MRI abnormalities responded well to steroid pulse therapy, so we made a diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020 May 20;11(3):101377. Epub 2020 Jan 20.

Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.

The relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia hermsii and the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto each produces an abundant, orthologous, outer membrane protein, Vtp and OspC, respectively, when transmitted by tick bite. Gene inactivation studies have shown that both proteins are essential for spirochete infectivity when transmitted by their respective tick vectors. Therefore, we transformed a vtp-minus mutant of B. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020 Mar 23;11(2):101363. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address:

Lyme borreliosis caused by spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex is the most common tick-borne disease in Europe. Read More

J Parasitol 2020 02;106(1):30-37

Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.

is currently known to transmit 7 pathogens responsible for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, tick-borne relapsing fever, ehrlichiosis, and Powassan encephalitis. can also be colonized by endosymbiotic bacteria including those in the genus of . We screened 459 ticks submitted to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Tick Testing Laboratory with the objectives to (1) examine differences in infection prevalence of , , , and , (2) evaluate whether prevalence of co-infections occur at the same frequency that would be expected based on single infection, and (3) determine the presence of rickettsial endosymbionts in . Read More

CEN Case Rep 2020 May 22;9(2):173-176. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.

Rituximab (RTX) is a murine-human chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20 that has been proven effective for preventing relapse in frequently-relapsing or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (NS). Serum sickness, a type-3 hypersensitivity reaction resulting from injection of foreign proteins, has been reported in patients treated with RTX. Herein, we describe a case of RTX-induced serum sickness (RISS) in a 6-year-old boy with steroid-dependent NS. Read More