Evaluating the risk of tick-borne relapsing fever among occupational cavers—Austin, TX, 2017

Campbell, Stefanie B.; Klioueva, Anna; Taylor, Jeff; Nelson, Christina; Tomasi, Suzanne; Replogle, Adam; Kwit, Natalie; Sexton, Christopher; Schwartz, Amy; Hinckley, Alison

doi:10.1111/zph.12588

i

Evaluating the risk of tick-borne relapsing fever among occupational cavers—Austin, TX, 2017

Supporting Files

9 2019
By Campbell, Stefanie B. ; Klioueva, Anna ; Taylor, Jeff ; ...

File Language:

English

Details

Alternative Title:

Zoonoses Public Health
Personal Author:

Campbell, Stefanie B. ; Klioueva, Anna ; Taylor, Jeff ; Nelson, Christina ; Tomasi, Suzanne ; Replogle, Adam ; Kwit, Natalie ; Sexton, Christopher ; Schwartz, Amy ; Hinckley, Alison
Description:

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a potentially serious spirochetal infection caused by certain species of Borrelia and acquired through the bite of Ornithodoros ticks. In 2017, Austin Public Health, Austin, TX, identified five cases of febrile illness among employees who worked in caves. A cross-sectional serosurvey and interview were conducted for 44 employees at eight organizations that conduct cave-related work. Antibodies against TBRF-causing Borrelia were detected in the serum of five participants, four of whom reported recent illness. Seropositive employees entered significantly more caves (Median 25 [SD: 15] versus Median 4 [SD: 16], p = 0.04) than seronegative employees. Six caves were entered more frequently by seropositive employees posing a potentially high risk. Several of these caves were in public use areas and were opened for tours. Education of area healthcare providers about TBRF and prevention recommendations for cavers and the public are advised.
Subjects:

Adult Aged Animals Antibodies, Bacterial Caves Cross-Sectional Studies Female Humans Insect Repellents Male Middle Aged Occupational Exposure Permethrin Recreation Relapsing Fever Young Adult
Keywords:

Borrelia Borrelia Hermsii Borrelia Turicatae TBRF TX
Source:

Zoonoses Public Health. 66(6):579-586
Pubmed ID:

31152496
Pubmed Central ID:

PMC7042895
Document Type:

Journal Article
Funding:

CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
Place as Subject:

Texas
Volume:

66
Issue:

6
Collection(s):

CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:28b7896ac5e1bcc4f69b24fb0d8cf64778fb315267ba445973c953cec46b37a7
Download URL:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/85463/cdc_85463_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 483.66 KB ]

File Language:

English

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