AFRICAN RELAPSING FEVER 



15 



ending by lysis and ^vilh marked jaundice, 70 per cent, to 80 per cent, 

 of cases. 



The mortality is higher than in the others, 18 per cent. In Bombay, 

 30 per cent, to 40 per cent., according to Daniels. Sudden death from 

 heart failure is common. 



Heart stimulants should be given and collapse avoided by camphor, 

 ether, strychnine, hot bottles, blankets, &c. 



AFRICAN RELAPSING FEVER (African Tick Fever). 



The causative organisms are S. duttoni and S. recurrentis 

 (obermeieri) in West, East and Central Africa. 



The carriers are Ornithodorus moubata and Pediculus humanus. 



The disease is present in Angola, Congo State, Uganda, German 

 East Africa, Portuguese East Africa and the Zambesi Valley. 



C 





Spirochoeia duttoni, a, blood form showing 

 slight membrane ; &, granules or coccoid bodies 

 clearly formed within the organism ; c, beginning 

 of extrusion of coccoid bodies in the tick. (After 

 Fantham.) 



The infection is by small spiroch^etal chromatin segments, which 

 come from the lumen of the gut of the tick and contaminate the wound 

 made by it. The chromatin segments pass into the wound as a result 

 of the regurgitation of the gut contents or the Malpighian secretion, 

 and also as a result of its faeces contaminating the abraised surface. 



Scratching after a tick bite is said to cause sufficient abrasion for 

 the parasites to pass through the skin and cause the infection. 



