Endemic relapsing fever is caused by all except? – Microbiology MCQ

Endemic relapsing fever is caused by all except?
A. Borrelia duttonii
B. Borrelia hermsii
C. Borrelia parkeri
D. Borrelia recurrentis

Correct answer : D. Borrelia recurrentis

Characteristic corkscrew shaped appearance of Borrelia

• Endemic relapsing fever is caused by Borreliae which normally live in their natural host rodents, or in other mammals which the vector takes feed.
• Human infection is an accidental event.

• Borrelia recurrentis causes epidemic relapsing fever.
• It was first observed by Obermeyer in the blood of patients during an epidemic in Berlin.
• It is transmitted by body lice from person to person.
• It is also called louse borne relapsing fever.

Ref: Ananthanarayan and Paniker’s Textbook of Microbiology, 9th edition, p378.
Image credits: CDC Public Health Image Library. http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp?pid=6631