African tick fever

Abstract

(]) African "Tick B’ever" is conveyed by an Argasine tick, Ornithodoros moubata, naturally, with certainty; probably naturally by O. savignyi; possibly by bugs: and that temperature has little effect on the powers of the tick to convey the infection.(2) The disease is commoner in Central Africa than has hitherto been supposed and in consequence of our increased knowledge of the disease and its conveyance, many, of the cases which were formerlydiagnosed as malaria are new rightly ascribed to infection with the spirochoete. This knowledge has been, and will be gained by frequent use of the microscope and the cultivation of greater skill in the use of stains and dark ground illumination.(3) A considerable degree of immunity can be acquired This is made manifest by accounts of cases in the literature, by some of my own native cases, end also European Case No.3.(4) Tile disease presents symptoms of all degrees of severity which may or may not depend on one or more modified forms of Sp. duttcni; the differentiation of a spirochoete showing different cultural and morphological characteristics from Sp. duttoni tends to confirm the opinion that there is a severe and a mild form due to a different variety of spirochoete.(5) Among the symptoms of the disease, those which are manifestations of disease affecting the nervous system are prominent, viz., severity of the headache, eye symptoms, inco-ordination, neuralgias and paralyses, especially facial paralysis, tending to persist as a sequela in some cases, long after the disease has run its course.(6) It is essentially a preventable disease, and much can be done to prevent its occurrence by enforced sanitary measures. The benefit of personal prophylaxis, especially the care of.the eyes should be borne in mind.(?) in Salvarsan and the other compounds of arsenic, and, perhaps to a lesser extent, in the antimony compounds, we have a true specific remedy for the disease. Of particular importance is the recent product Salvarsan-Silver Podium, and more especially "1495" .(8) By simplicity and portability of apparatus, and use of these drugs in greater concentration, the remedy is now available for all, and in the most remote areas.