RGD uses the Human Disease Ontology (DO, https://disease-ontology.org/) for disease curation across species. RGD automatically downloads each new release of the ontology on a monthly basis. Some additional terms which are required for RGD's curation purposes but are not currently covered in the official version of DO have been added. As corresponding terms are added to DO, these custom terms are retired and the DO terms substituted in existing annotations and subsequently used for curation.
A relapsing fever that is characterized by relapsing or recurring episodes of fever, has_material_basis_in Borrelia recurrentis, which is transmitted_by body louse (Pediculus humanus). The infection has_symptom tachypnea, has_symptom tachycardia, has_symptom hepatosplenomegaly and has_symptom lymphadenopathy. (DO)