Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern Poland
Background & objectives: Many etiological agents of zoonoses are considered as significant biological hazard to people visiting forested areas frequently, for instance, hunters. They may be exposed to ticks, rodents, and birds as well as excreta/secretions of wild animals or contaminated water a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2016;volume=53;issue=4;spage=355;epage=361;aulast=Tokarska-Rodak;type=0 |
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| author | Małgorzata Tokarska-Rodak Dorota Plewik Aleksander J Michalski Marcin Kołodziej Alicja Mełgieś Anna Pańczuk Henryk Konon Marcin Niemcewicz |
| author_facet | Małgorzata Tokarska-Rodak Dorota Plewik Aleksander J Michalski Marcin Kołodziej Alicja Mełgieś Anna Pańczuk Henryk Konon Marcin Niemcewicz |
| author_sort | Małgorzata Tokarska-Rodak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background & objectives: Many etiological agents of zoonoses are considered as significant biological hazard to people visiting forested areas frequently, for instance, hunters. They may be exposed to ticks, rodents, and birds as well as excreta/secretions of wild animals or contaminated water and soil. Hence, this population is at risk of contracting infection with pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., tick-borne encephalitis virus, Bartonella spp., Francisella tularensis, Echinococcus spp., or hantaviruses. The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of zoonotic agents, viz. A. phagocytophilum, hantaviruses, and Echinococcus spp., with special regard to B. burgdorferi s.l., among hunters in Lubelskie Voivodeship (eastern Poland).
Methods: Serum samples collected from 134 hunters from Lubelskie Voivodeship were analyzed with the use of immunological techniques (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, line immunoblot test, and indirect fluorescence assay) for the presence of antibodies against the agents.
Results: Specific antibodies were detected in 66% of the tested individuals. Antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. (39%), A. phagocytophilum (30%), hantaviruses (9%), and Echinococcus spp. (8%) were detected individually or as mixed results.
Interpretation & conclusion: The results confirm that there is a risk of exposure to different pathogens in the forested areas in eastern Poland and that hunters are highly vulnerable to infection with the examined zoonotic agents. A significant proportion of co-occurring antibodies against different pathogens was noticed. Thus, hunters have to take special care of their health status evaluation and mitigate the exposure risk by using adequate prophylaxis measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:49:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06546e6f62394c29a5432f7c69234acc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0972-9062 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:49:20Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-06546e6f62394c29a5432f7c69234acc2022-12-21T19:28:21ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Vector Borne Diseases0972-90622016-01-01534355361Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern PolandMałgorzata Tokarska-RodakDorota PlewikAleksander J MichalskiMarcin KołodziejAlicja MełgieśAnna PańczukHenryk KononMarcin NiemcewiczBackground & objectives: Many etiological agents of zoonoses are considered as significant biological hazard to people visiting forested areas frequently, for instance, hunters. They may be exposed to ticks, rodents, and birds as well as excreta/secretions of wild animals or contaminated water and soil. Hence, this population is at risk of contracting infection with pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., tick-borne encephalitis virus, Bartonella spp., Francisella tularensis, Echinococcus spp., or hantaviruses. The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of zoonotic agents, viz. A. phagocytophilum, hantaviruses, and Echinococcus spp., with special regard to B. burgdorferi s.l., among hunters in Lubelskie Voivodeship (eastern Poland). Methods: Serum samples collected from 134 hunters from Lubelskie Voivodeship were analyzed with the use of immunological techniques (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, line immunoblot test, and indirect fluorescence assay) for the presence of antibodies against the agents. Results: Specific antibodies were detected in 66% of the tested individuals. Antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. (39%), A. phagocytophilum (30%), hantaviruses (9%), and Echinococcus spp. (8%) were detected individually or as mixed results. Interpretation & conclusion: The results confirm that there is a risk of exposure to different pathogens in the forested areas in eastern Poland and that hunters are highly vulnerable to infection with the examined zoonotic agents. A significant proportion of co-occurring antibodies against different pathogens was noticed. Thus, hunters have to take special care of their health status evaluation and mitigate the exposure risk by using adequate prophylaxis measures.http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2016;volume=53;issue=4;spage=355;epage=361;aulast=Tokarska-Rodak;type=0Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.; eastern Poland; Echinococcus spp.; hantaviruses; hunters; seroprevalence |
| spellingShingle | Małgorzata Tokarska-Rodak Dorota Plewik Aleksander J Michalski Marcin Kołodziej Alicja Mełgieś Anna Pańczuk Henryk Konon Marcin Niemcewicz Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern Poland Journal of Vector Borne Diseases Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.; eastern Poland; Echinococcus spp.; hantaviruses; hunters; seroprevalence |
| title | Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern Poland |
| title_full | Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern Poland |
| title_fullStr | Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern Poland |
| title_short | Serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern Poland |
| title_sort | serological surveillance of vector borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern poland |
| topic | Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.; eastern Poland; Echinococcus spp.; hantaviruses; hunters; seroprevalence |
| url | http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2016;volume=53;issue=4;spage=355;epage=361;aulast=Tokarska-Rodak;type=0 |
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