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a. Motile spirochete
Recurring cycles of 5 days febrile/ 8 days afrebrilea. Relapsing Fever – caused by Antigenic variation of Variable Major Protein (VMP) in outer membrane
Symptoms may be similar to Recurrent Fever due to B. hermsii and trench fever of Bartonella quintana
a. Human to Human transmission via the human body louse - Humans are the only hostb. The organism enters and multiply within the bloodstream and triggers an inflammatory response and feverc. Outer membrane proteins undergo antigenic variation and expression of silent genes; new antigenic type multiplies, stimulating new immune response and thus fever relapse (recurring cycles of 5 days febrile/8 days afebrile, continues up to 10 times)
a. Blood sample/culture during fevers - requires specialized mediab. Peripheral Smear (Geimsa or Wright Staining) - organisms are visible
c. Serologyd. PCR /nucleic amplification tests
a. Penicillinb. Tetracycline