Borrelia infection in small mammals in West Africa and its relationship with tick occurrence inside burrows

- We collected 4358 small mammals belonging to 38 species and 7 families.
- In total, 3225 specimens collected came from areas where the occurrence of Ornithodoros sonrai tick in burrows was documented and 1133 in areas where this tick was absent.
- Borrelia infection was only demonstrated in 287 of 3109 (9.2%) small mammals tested.
- The 287 specimens infected by Borrelia belonged to 15 rodents and shrew species, including three Saharo-Sahelian species identified as reservoirs for tick-borne relapsing fever restricted to this area.