Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Austin Public Health, Austin, Texas.
Zoonoses Public Health. 2019 Sep;66(6):579-586. doi: 10.1111/zph.12588. Epub 2019 May 31.
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.
蜱传回归热（TBRF）是一种由特定种属的伯氏疏螺旋体引起的潜在严重螺旋体感染，通过感染性蜱的叮咬传播。2017 年，美国得克萨斯州奥斯汀公共卫生部门在洞穴工作的员工中发现了五例发热病例。对从事洞穴相关工作的八家机构的 44 名员工进行了横断面血清学调查和访谈。在五名参与者的血清中检测到了 TBRF 致病伯氏疏螺旋体的抗体，其中四人报告了近期患病。血清阳性的员工进入的洞穴明显更多（中位数 25 [SD：15]与中位数 4 [SD：16]，p = 0.04），而血清阴性的员工进入的洞穴较少。六位血清阳性的员工经常进入一些具有高风险的洞穴。其中一些洞穴位于公共使用区域，可供旅游参观。建议对该地区的医疗保健提供者进行 TBRF 方面的教育，并向洞穴探险者和公众提出预防建议。
