Fig 1.
Assumed global distribution of TBRF and LBRF, 1950–1969 (Felsenfeld O. Borrelia; Strains, Vectors, Human and Animal Borreliosis. St. Louis: Warren H. Green; 1971[8]).
Fig 2.
Microscopical detection of TBRF Borrelia in blood films.
Microscopic images of Giemsa-stained thin blood films (original magnifications ×1’000) showing TBRF Borrelia in a patient suffering from TBRF fever due to Borrelia persica (courtesy of Dr. Veronika Muigg).
Table 1.
Overview of laboratory methods applied in TBRF and their advantages, disadvantages and use.
Table 2.
Diagnostic grading system to judge the certainty of the correct diagnosis of TBRF.
Fig 3.
Flow diagram of search and selection of eligible publications.
Fig 4.
Number of TBRF case studies published from 1906 to 2020.
TBRF, tick borne relapsing fever.
Fig 5.
Reported TBRF cases by country and causative Borrelia species.
B., Borrelia. Map created on www.mapchart.net.
Fig 6.
Reported TBRF cases caused by unidentified Borrelia species.
TBRF, Tick borne relapsing fever. Map created on www.mapchart.net.
Fig 7.
Reported presence of TBRF Borrelia species in ticks and animal hosts in America.
B., Borrelia. Map created on www.mapchart.net.
Fig 8.
Reported presence of TBRF Borrelia species in ticks and animal hosts in Africa.
B., Borrelia. Map created on www.mapchart.net.
Fig 9.
Reported presence of TBRF Borrelia species in ticks and animal hosts in Europe.
B., Borrelia. Map created on www.mapchart.net.
Fig 10.
Reported presence of TBRF Borrelia species in ticks and animal hosts in Asia.
B., Borrelia. Map created on www.mapchart.net.
Table 3.
Known and putative TBRF Borrelia spp. and their animal host(s) and transmitting tick species.
Table 4.
Number of publications on TBRF cases by country where the infections were most likely acquired (n = 240 studies).
Table 5.
Case analysis on TBRF in travelers.
Fig 11.
Relative frequency of signs and symptoms (in %) related to TBRF (n = 152 studies).
TBRF, tick borne relapsing fever.
Fig 12.
Number of relapsing fever episodes in studies on TBRF (n = 67 studies).
* Note: Since the number of relapsing fever episodes within single studies was mostly reported as median, an evaluation per case was not possible.
Fig 13.
Abnormal laboratory findings related to TBRF (n = 65 studies).
ALAT, alanine aminotransferase; AP, alkaline phosphatase; ASAT, aspartate transaminase; CK, creatine kinase; CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; TBRF, tick borne relapsing fever.
Fig 14.
Complications of TBRF (n = 47 studies).
ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; DIC, disseminated intravascular coagulation; TBRF, tick borne relapsing fever.
Table 6.
Diagnostic methods used to diagnose TBRF in 7,612 cases (n = 240 studies).
Fig 15.
Use of different antimicrobial compounds/drugs to treat TBRF as reported from 1930 until today (n = 172 studies).
Table 7.
Treatment specific frequency of JHR in TBRF (n = 65 studies).
Table 8.
Case fatality analysis of TBRF (n = 17 studies).
Table 9.
Summary of characteristics of TBRF compared to LBRF.