SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUSPECTED CASES OF TICK-BORNE RELAPSING FEVER

(A CASE STUDY OF NORTHERN BORNO STATE NIGERIA)

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Author

Presented To

Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a bacterial disease caused by Borrelia species which is transmitted to humans by infected ticks. The disease occurs worldwide. In West Africa, geographical distribution of Borrelia is classically limited to the Sahel and Saharan regions; there are no documented cases of the disease in Nigeria. This study is a response to a report of suspected TBRF in Borno state. The aim is to determine demographic features and risk factors associated with suspected cases of TBRF in northern Borno State Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out in four community health centres and two referral hospitals using an interviewer administered questionnaires to obtain demographic information. One hundred samples of tick were collected from resting places in livestock markets, hemolymph smear were stained with Giemsa stain to investigate for Borrelia. Questionnaires were analyzed using Epi info version 3.5.1, Winepiscope soft ware and excel spread sheet. The Ages of respondents ranged from 3- 70 years, both males and females had symptoms of TBRF. Their primary occupation was farming and trading. Keeping of animals was a significant (OR = 6.56, 95 % CI 1.73- 24.88) risk factor for tick infestation, while keeping of animals and sleeping outside at night (OR = 4.88, 95 % CI 1.09-21.88 and OR= 3.91, 95 % CI 1.49-10.30) were significant for tick bite. None of the 100 hemolymph smear revealed Borrelia spirochete at X100. All the four communities were infested widely with ticks. Respondents of both sexes and age groups studied were engaged in occupation that exposes them to tick bite and TBRF. The state should conduct public health campaigns on preventing tick bite and establish tick-borne borreliosis surveillance mechanism. Key Words: Ornithodoros, Borrelia, risk factor, Borno State, Nigeria.