Epidemiological situation of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium, 2003 to 2012

Bleyenheuft, Corinne; Lernout, Tinne; Berger, N.; Rebolledo, Javiera; Leroy, Mathias; Robert, Annie; Quoilin, Sophie

doi:10.1186/s13690-015-0079-7

Cited by 19 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In Germany, the direct Eastern neighbour of the Netherland, the incidence of Lyme borreliosis increased between 2001 and 2006, and stabilized between 2009 and 2012 [ 7 , 24 ]. South to the Netherlands, in Belgium and France incidence rates for Lyme borreliosis remained stable between 2003 and 2012 [ 3 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decrease in tick bite consultations and stabilization of early Lyme borreliosis in the Netherlands in 2014 after 15 years of continuous increase

et al. 2016

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BackgroundNationwide surveys have shown a threefold increase in general practitioner (GP) consultations for tick bites and early Lyme borreliosis from 1994 to 2009 in the Netherlands. We now report an update on 2014, with identical methods as for the preceding GP surveys.MethodsTo all GPs in the Netherlands, a postal questionnaire was sent inquiring about the number of consultations for tick bites and erythema migrans diagnoses (most common manifestation of early Lyme borreliosis) in 2014, and the size of their practice populations.ResultsContrasting to the previously rising incidence of consultations for tick bites between 1994 and 2009, the incidence decreased in 2014 to 488 consultations for tick bites per 100,000 inhabitants, i.e., 82,000 patients nationwide. This survey revealed a first sign of stabilization of the previously rising trend in GP diagnosed erythema migrans, with 140 diagnoses per 100,000 inhabitants of the Netherlands. This equals about 23,500 annual diagnoses of erythema migrans nationwide in 2014.ConclusionsIn contrast to the constantly rising incidence of GP consultations for tick bites and erythema migrans diagnoses in the Netherlands between 1994 and 2009, the current survey of 2014 showed a first sign of stabilization of erythema migrans diagnoses and a decreased incidence for tick bite consultations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decrease in tick bite consultations and stabilization of early Lyme borreliosis in the Netherlands in 2014 after 15 years of continuous increase

et al. 2016

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“…Most cases are reported along a North–South axis, in the provinces Antwerp, Walloon Brabant, Flemish Brabant, Namur, and Luxemburg (15, 17). The incidence of LD is high in Belgian municipalities, having large forest-settlement interfaces in wealthy peri-urban areas (15).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The incidence of LD is high in Belgian municipalities, having large forest-settlement interfaces in wealthy peri-urban areas (15). Concerns have thus arisen regarding LD but few studies investigated seroprevalence (1, 17). …”

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confidence: 99%

Individual and environmental factors associated with the seroprevalence ofBorrelia burgdorferiin Belgian farmers and veterinarians

Keukeleire

Robert

Kabamba

et al. 2016

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology

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BackgroundLyme disease (LD) is a common tick-borne disease in Europe. Diverse factors at various scales determine the spatial distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi infection risk and a better understanding of those factors in a spatially explicit framework is needed for disease management and prevention. While the ecology of ticks and the landscape favoring their abundance have been extensively studied, the environmental conditions favoring an intense contact with susceptible humans, including groups at risk, are sparse. The aim of this study is to assess which individual and environmental factors can favor B. burgdorferi infection in a Belgian group professionally at risk.MethodsSerological results of 127 veterinarians and farmers enrolled in this study were analyzed, taking into account their municipality of residence. Using binary logistic regression and considering interaction terms, the joint effects of landscape composition and configuration, and forest and wildlife management were examined.ResultsSeven of the 127 workers were seropositive for LD, leading to a seroprevalence of 5.51%. Seropositivity was higher in older persons. The proportion of forest and semi-natural habitats and wetland had a positive impact on LD seroprevalence while arable land–grassland ecotones had a negative one. Our results confirmed the need to consider complex interactions between landscape variables in order to model risk.ConclusionsOur data show that LD has to be considered as a risk for farmers and veterinarians. Rather than focusing either on ecological aspects of tick and pathogen distribution or on purely epidemiological aspects such as individual risk factors, our model highlights the role of human–environment interactions in LD risk assessment.

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“…An incidence approach will be used for the occurrence of the different clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis, where the incidences of EM and disseminated Lyme will be estimated based on existing literature and surveillance systems currently in place in Belgium (e.g. sentinel network of general practitioners, network of sentinel laboratories and minimal clinical data) [ 36 , 37 ]. The cohort study will provide an estimate of the incidence of PTLDS, of the symptom durations for the different clinical manifestations as well as estimates of the group specific disability weights.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Belgium, it is estimated that, every year, approximately 10.000 people consult a general practitioner (GP) with an erythema migrans and 200–300 people are hospitalized due to disseminated Lyme borreliosis [ 36 , 37 ]. Although, up to now, no increasing trend in the Lyme borreliosis incidence has been observed (based on the long-term surveillance systems in place), the disease is assumed to represent a significant health and cost burden for the population and the health system in Belgium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The HUMTICK study: protocol for a prospective cohort study on post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome and the disease and cost burden of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium

Geebelen¹,

Lernout²,

Kabamba-Mukadi³

et al. 2017

Arch Public Health

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BackgroundIn Belgium, different routine surveillance systems are in place to follow-up Lyme borreliosis trends. However, accurate data on the disease and monetary burden for the different clinical manifestations are lacking. Despite recommended antibiotic treatment, a proportion of Lyme patients report persisting aspecific symptoms for six months or more (e.g. fatigue, widespread musculoskeletal pain, cognitive difficulties), a syndrome now named “post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome” (PTLDS). Controversy exists on the cause, incidence and severity of PTLDS. This study aims to estimate the incidence of PTLDS in patients with Lyme borreliosis and to quantify the disease burden and economic costs associated with the different clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium.MethodsThe project is a prospective cohort study in which about 600 patients with an erythema migrans and 100 patients with disseminated Lyme borreliosis will be followed up. Questionnaires, including the SF-36 vitality and pain subscale, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire and the EQ-5D-5L, will be used to collect information on acute and persisting symptoms and the impact on quality of life. Symptom frequency and severity will be compared with self-reported pre-Lyme health status, a control group and existing Belgian population norms. Additionally, information on the associated costs and possible risk factors for the development of PTLDS will be collected.DiscussionA study of the health burden will allow evaluation of the relative importance of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium and information on the economic cost will help to formulate cost-effective measures. There are only few prospective studies conducted estimating the incidence of PTLDS and even though discussion exists about the prevalence of subjective symptoms in the general population, a control group of non-Lyme borreliosis participants has often not been included.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13690-017-0202-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Epidemiological situation of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium, 2003 to 2012

Cited by 19 publications

References 18 publications

Decrease in tick bite consultations and stabilization of early Lyme borreliosis in the Netherlands in 2014 after 15 years of continuous increase

Decrease in tick bite consultations and stabilization of early Lyme borreliosis in the Netherlands in 2014 after 15 years of continuous increase

Individual and environmental factors associated with the seroprevalence ofBorrelia burgdorferiin Belgian farmers and veterinarians

The HUMTICK study: protocol for a prospective cohort study on post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome and the disease and cost burden of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium

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