Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Prevalence and risk factors of louse-borne relapsing fever in high risk populations in Bahir Dar city Northwest, Ethiopia

3^rd International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Mulat Yimer Melaku

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Background: Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is a vector borne acute febrile illness caused by Borrelia recurrentis and the
disease is more prevalent in the high risk groups like prisoners, yekoloremaries and street children. However, prevalence and
risk factors of LBRF in these populations about the disease are not known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine
the prevalence and risk factors of LBRF in high risk populations.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey on prevalence and risk factors of LBRF in high risk populations in Bahir Dar city was
conducted in December, 2012. For the study, blood was taken from the tip of the left ring finger of the participants by laboratory
technicians and thick blood film was prepared from each participant and stained with 3% Giemsa for 30 min. The slides were
examined and the result was reported as positive or negative using light microscopy and finally, data was also collected using a
pre-tested questionnaire by face to face interviews.
Results: Of the 407 study participants, 383 (94.1%) were males with the mean age of 31 years and 243 (59.7%) had no formal
education. The prevalence of LBRF was 2.5% and the positivity rate of LBRF was highest in yekolotemaries (6.1%) followed
by street children (4.9%). However, prisoners had nil and statistically significance association was observed between high risk
populations and LBRF prevalence (p<0.001). Those study participants who lived in mud houses had the highest positivity rate
(2.2%), followed by those in wood houses (0.3%). However, those who lived in brick houses had nil. Study participants who
had low levels of knowledge had the highest prevalence rate of LBRF.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of LBRF was 2.5% and the rate of positivity was highest in yekolotemaries, followed by
street children. Therefore, health education should be given for these high risk populations.