Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors
Abstract Background As forest is the preferred environment for ticks, forestry workers are exposed to tick bites and tick-borne diseases. We assessed the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies and investigated, using an integrated landscape approach, the individual and environme...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2018-05-01
|
| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2860-2 |
| _version_ | 1819198514458001408 |
|---|---|
| author | Mathilde De Keukeleire Annie Robert Victor Luyasu Benoît Kabamba Sophie O. Vanwambeke |
| author_facet | Mathilde De Keukeleire Annie Robert Victor Luyasu Benoît Kabamba Sophie O. Vanwambeke |
| author_sort | Mathilde De Keukeleire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background As forest is the preferred environment for ticks, forestry workers are exposed to tick bites and tick-borne diseases. We assessed the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies and investigated, using an integrated landscape approach, the individual and environmental factors associated with the seroprevalence of Bb in Belgian forestry workers, a high-risk group in Belgium. Methods A group of 310 Belgian forest workers was examined to assess the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies. Using principal component analysis and binary logistic regression, the joint effects of individual characteristics and environmental characteristics were examined. Results Sixty-seven of the 310 workers were seropositive for Lyme disease (LD), leading to a seroprevalence of 21.6%. The seroprevalence was higher among forest workers visiting forests more frequently (P = 0.003) or who reported over 100 tick bites (P-value < 0.001). The intensity of tick bites and the use of protection measures against tick bites have a positive impact on LD seroprevalence while the quantity of shadow from trees at ground level had a negative one. Conclusions This study showed that forest workers are a population at risk for LD and, by extension, at risk for various tick-borne diseases. In addition to the role of the environment, our results also showed the importance of considering exposure when predicting the risk of infection by Bb. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:01:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-00b576e33ffc4505ac67ab208e331655 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:01:39Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-00b576e33ffc4505ac67ab208e3316552022-12-21T18:02:24ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052018-05-0111111110.1186/s13071-018-2860-2Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factorsMathilde De Keukeleire0Annie Robert1Victor Luyasu2Benoît Kabamba3Sophie O. Vanwambeke4Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Georges Lemaitre Center for Earth and Climate Research, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)Pôle Epidémiologie et Biostatistique (EPID), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Faculté de Santé Publique (FSP), Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)Pôle Epidémiologie et Biostatistique (EPID), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Faculté de Santé Publique (FSP), Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Georges Lemaitre Center for Earth and Climate Research, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)Abstract Background As forest is the preferred environment for ticks, forestry workers are exposed to tick bites and tick-borne diseases. We assessed the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies and investigated, using an integrated landscape approach, the individual and environmental factors associated with the seroprevalence of Bb in Belgian forestry workers, a high-risk group in Belgium. Methods A group of 310 Belgian forest workers was examined to assess the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies. Using principal component analysis and binary logistic regression, the joint effects of individual characteristics and environmental characteristics were examined. Results Sixty-seven of the 310 workers were seropositive for Lyme disease (LD), leading to a seroprevalence of 21.6%. The seroprevalence was higher among forest workers visiting forests more frequently (P = 0.003) or who reported over 100 tick bites (P-value < 0.001). The intensity of tick bites and the use of protection measures against tick bites have a positive impact on LD seroprevalence while the quantity of shadow from trees at ground level had a negative one. Conclusions This study showed that forest workers are a population at risk for LD and, by extension, at risk for various tick-borne diseases. In addition to the role of the environment, our results also showed the importance of considering exposure when predicting the risk of infection by Bb.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2860-2Borrelia burgdorferiLyme diseaseSeroprevalenceSerologyTickExposed groups |
| spellingShingle | Mathilde De Keukeleire Annie Robert Victor Luyasu Benoît Kabamba Sophie O. Vanwambeke Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors Parasites & Vectors Borrelia burgdorferi Lyme disease Seroprevalence Serology Tick Exposed groups |
| title | Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors |
| title_full | Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors |
| title_short | Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors |
| title_sort | seroprevalence of borrelia burgdorferi in belgian forestry workers and associated risk factors |
| topic | Borrelia burgdorferi Lyme disease Seroprevalence Serology Tick Exposed groups |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2860-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mathildedekeukeleire seroprevalenceofborreliaburgdorferiinbelgianforestryworkersandassociatedriskfactors AT annierobert seroprevalenceofborreliaburgdorferiinbelgianforestryworkersandassociatedriskfactors AT victorluyasu seroprevalenceofborreliaburgdorferiinbelgianforestryworkersandassociatedriskfactors AT benoitkabamba seroprevalenceofborreliaburgdorferiinbelgianforestryworkersandassociatedriskfactors AT sophieovanwambeke seroprevalenceofborreliaburgdorferiinbelgianforestryworkersandassociatedriskfactors |