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Previous Volume 355:148-155 July 13, 2006 Number 2 Next

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ABSTRACT

Background Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is an acute febrile illness. In Israel, TBRF is caused by Borrelia persica and is transmitted by Ornithodoros tholozani ticks. We examined the safety and efficacy of postexposure treatment to prevent TBRF.

Methods In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 93 healthy subjects with suspected tick exposure (52 with signs of tick bites and 41 close contacts — those without signs but with a similar risk of contact with ticks) were randomly assigned to receive either doxycycline (Dexxon, in a dose of 200 mg the first day and then 100 mg per day for four days) or placebo after presumed exposure to TBRF. Cases of TBRF were defined by fever and a positive blood smear. Serologic analysis for cross-reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the borrelia glpQ gene were also performed.

Results After randomization, 47 subjects (26 with signs of tick bites and 21 close contacts) received doxycycline. Forty-six other subjects (26 with signs of tick bites and 20 close contacts) received placebo. All 10 cases of TBRF identified by a positive blood smear were in the placebo group of subjects with signs of a tick bite (P<0.001). These findings suggested a 100 percent efficacy of preemptive treatment (95 percent confidence interval, 46 to 100 percent). PCR for the borrelia glpQ gene was negative at baseline for all subjects and subsequently positive in all subjects with fever and a positive blood smear. Seroconversion was detected in eight of nine cases of TBRF. PCR and serum samples were negative for all of the other subjects tested. No major treatment-associated adverse effects were identified.

Conclusions Treatment with doxycycline is safe and efficacious in preventing TBRF after suspected exposure to ticks in a high-risk environment. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00237016 [ClinicalTrials.gov] .)

Source Information

From the Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force, Military Post 02149 (T.H., N.D., R.C., N.O., E.K., R.K., T.S., E.D., T.H., M.Y., I.G.); Air Force Academy, Israel Defense Force (T.D., A.R.); Air Force, Israel Defense Force (N.L.); Haim Sheba Medical Center, Bacteriological Laboratory, Tel Hashomer (N.K.); and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (D.C.) — all in Israel.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Hasin at 16A Koboby st' Jerusalem 96757, Israel, or at hasintal{at}zahav.net.il.

Full Text of this Article

Related Letters:

Doxycycline for the Prevention of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever
Croft A. M., Jackson C. J., Darbyshire A. H., Hasin T., Davidovitch N., Cohen D.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2006; 355:1614-1615, Oct 12, 2006. Correspondence

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Million, M., Cazorla, C., Doudier, B., La Scola, B., Parola, P., Drancourt, M., Brouqui, P. (2009). Molecular identification of Borrelia crocidurae in a patient returning from Senegal. BMJ Case Reports 2009: bcr0620080298-bcr0620080298 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Croft, A. M., Jackson, C. J., Darbyshire, A. H., Hasin, T., Davidovitch, N., Cohen, D. (2006). Doxycycline for the Prevention of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever.. NEJM 355: 1614-1615 [Full Text]  
• (2006). Postexposure Doxycycline Prophylaxis Efficacious Against Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. JWatch Infect. Diseases 2006: 3-3 [Full Text]