The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium
Abstract Background Serological surveillance, based on the measurement of the presence of specific antibodies in a given population, can be used in addition to traditional and routine disease surveillance methods. The added value of this has been largely documented for vaccine-preventable diseases,...
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BMC
2019-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-6914-y |
| _version_ | 1818242855884292096 |
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| author | Tinne Lernout Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi Veroniek Saegeman Marie Tré-Hardy Morgane de Laveleye Tommi Asikainen Ram Benny Dessau Sophie Quoilin Amber Litzroth |
| author_facet | Tinne Lernout Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi Veroniek Saegeman Marie Tré-Hardy Morgane de Laveleye Tommi Asikainen Ram Benny Dessau Sophie Quoilin Amber Litzroth |
| author_sort | Tinne Lernout |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Serological surveillance, based on the measurement of the presence of specific antibodies in a given population, can be used in addition to traditional and routine disease surveillance methods. The added value of this has been largely documented for vaccine-preventable diseases, but to a lesser extent for vector-borne diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of seroprevalence data as additional source of information on the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium. Methods In total, 3215 residual blood samples collected in 2013–2015 were analysed with Liaison® Borrelia IgG kit (DiaSorin S.p.A, Saluggia, Italy). Positive and equivocal results were further examined with immunoblotting (recomLine Borrelia IgG kit, Mikrogen, Neuried, Germany). Crude prevalence estimates of equivocal and seropositive results were calculated and further adjusted accounting for clustered sampling and standardized for age, sex and population per province, according to the Belgian population structure in 2014. The effect of age, sex and region on seropositivity was assessed using log-binomial regression. Results The overall weighted national seroprevalence for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, adjusted for clustered sampling, age, sex and province was 1.06% (95%CI 0.67–1.67). Although not statistically significant, the highest prevalences were observed in men and in those younger than 15 years or older than 59 years of age. At provincial level, the seroprevalence estimates do not follow the geographical distribution of tick bites and diagnoses of Lyme borreliosis as detected through other surveillance systems. Conclusions Although the use of residual samples for seroprevalence estimates has several advantages, it seems to be a limited tool for serological surveillance of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium, other than follow-up of trends if repeated over time. A population-based sampling strategy might provide a more representative nationwide sample, but would be very time intensive and expensive. Seroprevalence studies within risk groups or risk areas in Belgium could provide a useful alternative approach to complement routine surveillance data of Lyme borreliosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:51:52Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:51:52Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-0b32838e24d54427943c93ad684052f22022-12-22T00:22:32ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582019-05-011911710.1186/s12889-019-6914-yThe value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of BelgiumTinne Lernout0Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi1Veroniek Saegeman2Marie Tré-Hardy3Morgane de Laveleye4Tommi Asikainen5Ram Benny Dessau6Sophie Quoilin7Amber Litzroth8Scientific Directorate Epidemiology and Public Health SciensanoInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Microbiology Department, Catholic University Louvain (UCL)Laboratory of Clinical Virology, University Hospitals LeuvenInstitute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Microbiology Department, Catholic University Louvain (UCL)Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Microbiology Department, Catholic University Louvain (UCL)Scientific Directorate Epidemiology and Public Health SciensanoDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Slagelse HospitalScientific Directorate Epidemiology and Public Health SciensanoScientific Directorate Epidemiology and Public Health SciensanoAbstract Background Serological surveillance, based on the measurement of the presence of specific antibodies in a given population, can be used in addition to traditional and routine disease surveillance methods. The added value of this has been largely documented for vaccine-preventable diseases, but to a lesser extent for vector-borne diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of seroprevalence data as additional source of information on the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium. Methods In total, 3215 residual blood samples collected in 2013–2015 were analysed with Liaison® Borrelia IgG kit (DiaSorin S.p.A, Saluggia, Italy). Positive and equivocal results were further examined with immunoblotting (recomLine Borrelia IgG kit, Mikrogen, Neuried, Germany). Crude prevalence estimates of equivocal and seropositive results were calculated and further adjusted accounting for clustered sampling and standardized for age, sex and population per province, according to the Belgian population structure in 2014. The effect of age, sex and region on seropositivity was assessed using log-binomial regression. Results The overall weighted national seroprevalence for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, adjusted for clustered sampling, age, sex and province was 1.06% (95%CI 0.67–1.67). Although not statistically significant, the highest prevalences were observed in men and in those younger than 15 years or older than 59 years of age. At provincial level, the seroprevalence estimates do not follow the geographical distribution of tick bites and diagnoses of Lyme borreliosis as detected through other surveillance systems. Conclusions Although the use of residual samples for seroprevalence estimates has several advantages, it seems to be a limited tool for serological surveillance of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium, other than follow-up of trends if repeated over time. A population-based sampling strategy might provide a more representative nationwide sample, but would be very time intensive and expensive. Seroprevalence studies within risk groups or risk areas in Belgium could provide a useful alternative approach to complement routine surveillance data of Lyme borreliosis.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-6914-yLyme borreliosisSeroprevalenceSurveillance |
| spellingShingle | Tinne Lernout Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi Veroniek Saegeman Marie Tré-Hardy Morgane de Laveleye Tommi Asikainen Ram Benny Dessau Sophie Quoilin Amber Litzroth The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium BMC Public Health Lyme borreliosis Seroprevalence Surveillance |
| title | The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium |
| title_full | The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium |
| title_fullStr | The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium |
| title_full_unstemmed | The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium |
| title_short | The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium |
| title_sort | value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for lyme borreliosis in the general population the experience of belgium |
| topic | Lyme borreliosis Seroprevalence Surveillance |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-6914-y |
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