Tick exposure and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies among hunters and other individuals exposed to vector ticks in eastern Poland

Abstract

Background. Lyme borreliosis is the most frequent tick-borne disease in Europe and North America, and the number of registered cases is on the increase. Frequent presence in the habitats of ticks enhances the risk of tick bites and possible infection with Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of B. burgdorferi infection posed to hunters and other individuals exposed to activity-related contact with ticks. Material and methods. The study was carried out in the northern part of the Lublin Province (eastern Poland) and involved 150 individuals exposed to tick bites (110 hunters and 40 individuals exposed to activity-related contact with ticks). The analysis of sera for the presence of B. burgdorferi IgM and IgG antibodies was carried out. All 150 individuals were tested with the ELISA assay, and positive and borderline results of the assay were verified with the Western blot test. All study participants completed a questionnaire, which provided information about exposure to ticks, application of prophylactic measures, and awareness of Lyme borreliosis. Results. The ELISA assay revealed a positive or borderline result in at least one of the classes of B. burgdorferi antibodies in 63.3% (95/150) of the individuals (IgM 14.0%, IgG 63.3%). Verification carried out with the Western blot test showed a positive or borderline result in at least one of the antibody classes in 38.0% (57/150) of the examined persons (IgM 2.7%, IgG 36.7%). Abdomen (56.0%) and legs (53.7%) were the most frequently bitten body regions. Tick bites on the abdomen were significantly more frequently declared by hunters. Inspection of the body after returning from natural areas was more popular prophylactic method than use of repellents. Inspection of the body was significantly more often used in the group of the hunters. Conclusions. The risk of B. burgdorferi infection among hunters and other individuals undertaking activities associated with exposure to tick bites in the study area is high. STRESZCZENIEWprowadzenie. Borelioza z Lyme jest najczęstszą chorobą przenoszoną przez kleszcze w Europie i Ameryce Północnej, a liczba rejestrowanych przypadków zachorowań wzrasta. Częsta obecność w siedliskach kleszczy zwiększa ryzyko ukłucia przez kleszcze i możliwe zakażenie krętkami Borrelia burgdorferi. Cel badań. Celem badań była ocena ryzyka zakażenia B. burgdorferi wśród myśliwych oraz innych osób podejmujących aktywności narażające na kontakt z kleszczami. Materiał i metoda. Badania przeprowadzono na terenie północnej części województwa lubelskiego (wschodnia Polska) wśród 150 osób narażonych na pokłucia przez kleszcze (110 myśliwych i 40 osób narażonych na kontakt z kleszczami w związku z podejmowaniem innych aktywności). Zbadano surowice w kierunku obecności przeciwciał IgM i IgG anty--Borrelia burgdorferi. U wszystkich 150 osób wykonano test ELISA, a pozytywne i wątpliwe wyniki tego testu zweryfikowano stosując test Western blot. W badaniach zastosowano również autorski kwestionariusz ankiety do ocen...

Occupational Lyme Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…For all of the workers, the source of infection was the occurrence of tick bites during outdoor work activities in areas infested by infected vectors. This hypothesis was indirectly confirmed by the higher seroprevalence of anti-BB antibodies in workers reporting a high number of tick bites [ 58 , 67 , 69 , 73 ], and was demonstrated by identifying BB genetic material in ticks [ 42 , 47 ].…”

“…Older age and a longer exposure to forest environments increased the likelihood of BB infection [ 51 , 55 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 63 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 70 , 76 ]. The frequency of bites was also associated with BB seroprevalence in foresters and farmers [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 63 , 64 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 73 , 74 ]. Seropositivity was significantly increased in persons reporting more than 1 [ 44 ] or 2 [ 67 ], or more than 5 [ 58 , 67 , 69 ] tick bites a year.…”

Lyme borreliosis in Podlaskie Province in 2011-2018 – trend analysis

“…Pańczuk i wsp. wykazali, że wśród myśliwych i osób narażonych na pokłucia przez kleszcze w wyniku podejmowania innych aktywności we Wschodniej Polsce był wysoki (89,3%) [32].…”

Development of land transport connections between Asia and Europe and their possible impact on vector introductions into European Countries

“…Bigger chance to establish in a new environment have ticks who were transported on birds at shorter distances -for example moving from East to West or South to North Europe on bird of one species changing the territory in Autumn or Spring [11,14]. The tick Ixodes ricinus, effective vector of Lyme borreliosis is present almost in the whole Europe [20].…”

“…Existing regulations governing the exchange of goods and the movement of persons between countries are accurate and cover all aspects from the preparation of the goods to dispatch / commencement of travel by people, to reaching the final destination by the goods and people [20,39].…”