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Background Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete that relatively recently has been reported to infect humans. It causes an acute undifferentiated febrile illness that can include meningoencephalitis and relapsing fever. Like Borrelia burgdorferi, it is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks in the northeastern United States and by Ixodes pacificus ticks in the western United States. Despite reports of clinical cases from North America, Europe, and Asia, the prevalence, geographic range, and pattern of expansion of human B. miyamotoi infection are uncertain. To better understand these characteristics of B. miyamotoi in relation to other tickborne infections, we carried out a cross-sectional seroprevalence study across New England that surveyed B. miyamotoi, B. burgdorferi, and Babesia microti infections. Methods We measured specific antibodies against B. miyamotoi, B. burgdorferi, and B. microti among individuals living in 5 New England states in 2018. Results Analysis of 1153 serum samples collected at 11 catchment sites showed that the average seroprevalence for B. miyamotoi was 2.8% (range, 0.6%–5.2%), which was less than that of B. burgdorferi (11.0%; range, 6.8%–15.6%) and B. microti (10.0%; range, 6.5%–13.6%). Antibody screening within county residence in New England showed varying levels of seroprevalence for these pathogens but did not reveal a vectoral geographical pattern of distribution. Conclusions Human infections caused by B. miyamotoi, B. burgdorferi, and B. microti are widespread with varying prevalence throughout New England.

No abstract available. Revista latinoamericana de teología, Vol. 34, No. 102, 2017: 251-279.

A 5-year-old Massachusetts resident developed hard tick-borne relapsing fever caused by Borrelia miyamotoi. A partially engorged Ixodes scapularis tick was removed from her scalp and identified as infected with B. miyamotoi using polymerase chain reaction. Two weeks later, she developed an illness compatible with B. miyamotoi infection that included fatigue and recurrent fever. The diagnosis was confirmed by B. miyamotoi seroconversion.

No hay resúmenes disponibles. Revista latinoamericana de teología, Vol. 32, No. 96, 2015: 359-395.

We undertook a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial of cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin (CMVIG) for prevention of CMV-associated disease in 183 multiply transfused, premature neonates. CMVIG (150 mg/kg) or placebo was given within 24 hours of the first transfusion and at Day 10. If an intravenous catheter was still in place an additional dose was given between Days 20 and 30. The globulin and placebo groups were well-matched with respect to birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score, birth to a CMV-seropositive mother, requirement for assisted ventilation and exposure to CMV-positive, unscreened blood products. Among infants followed for more than 10 days, 18 (10.5%) developed CMV infection; 9 had symptomatic CMV disease (5 placebo; 4 CMVIG). Among infants born to a CMV-seropositive mother, CMVIG use was associated with a CMV syndrome rate of 3.2% (95% confidence interval, 0.2 to 18.5%) compared to 12.5% (95% confidence interval, 4.5 to 27.6%) among placebo recipients (P = 0.163). Among placebo recipients infants born to CMV-seropositive mothers were more likely to have a virologically confirmed CMV syndrome than those born to a CMV-seronegative mother, despite receipt of blood not screened for CMV antibody (P = 0.012). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that two factors were independently associated with CMV acquisition: the volume of CMV-seropositive blood products transfused (P = 0.005); and birth to a CMV-seropositive mother (P = 0.006). Infusions of CMVIG were well-tolerated. This study reaffirms that perinatally acquired CMV disease is more common among infants born to CMV-seropositive mothers than CMV-seronegative mothers, even without use of CMV-screened blood products.