Human Borreliosis Caused by a New World Relapsing Fever Borrelia–like Organism in the Old World

Abstract

A febrile illness caused by a Borrelia species that was treatable with erythromycin was identified in Zambia. This is the first study to report on relapsing fever Borrelia in Zambia and suggesting the likely natural reservoir hosts of the isolated Borrelia species. Interestingly, the isolated Borrelia species was more closely related to New World relapsing fever borreliae, despite being detected in the Afrotropic ecozone.