Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens
Abstract Background The impact of infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) other than Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) on public health in Europe remains unclear. Our goal is to evaluate whether the presence of these TBPs in ticks can be associated with self-re...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-03-01
|
| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05228-4 |
| _version_ | 1818320960605913088 |
|---|---|
| author | Tal Azagi Margriet Harms Arno Swart Manoj Fonville Dieuwertje Hoornstra Lapo Mughini-Gras Joppe W. Hovius Hein Sprong Cees van den Wijngaard |
| author_facet | Tal Azagi Margriet Harms Arno Swart Manoj Fonville Dieuwertje Hoornstra Lapo Mughini-Gras Joppe W. Hovius Hein Sprong Cees van den Wijngaard |
| author_sort | Tal Azagi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The impact of infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) other than Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) on public health in Europe remains unclear. Our goal is to evaluate whether the presence of these TBPs in ticks can be associated with self-reported health complaints. Methods We enrolled individuals who were bitten by I. ricinus between 2012 and 2015 and collected their relevant demographic and clinical information using a self-administered online questionnaire. A total of 4163 I. ricinus ticks sent by the participants were subject to molecular analyses for detection of specific TBPs. Associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks and self-reported complaints and symptoms were evaluated by means of a stepwise approach using a generalized linear model (GLM). Results Of 17 self-reported complaints and symptoms significant in the univariate analyses, 3 had a highly significant association (P < 0.01) with at least one TBP in the multivariate analysis. Self-reported Lyme borreliosis was significantly associated (P < 0.001) with B. burgdorferi (s.l.) infection. Facial paralysis was associated (P < 0.01) with infection with B. miyamotoi, N. mikurensis and R. helvetica. Finally, a significant association (P < 0.001) was found between nocturnal sweating and A. phagocytophilum. Conclusions We found associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks feeding on humans and self-reported symptoms. Due to the subjective nature of such reports and the fact that infection was determined in the ticks and not in the patient samples, further prospective studies utilizing diagnostic modalities should be performed before any clinical outcome can be causally linked to infection with TBPs. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:33:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1433217aa00e4533ab1b5934fe49cbf0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:33:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-1433217aa00e4533ab1b5934fe49cbf02022-12-21T23:50:47ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052022-03-011511610.1186/s13071-022-05228-4Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogensTal Azagi0Margriet Harms1Arno Swart2Manoj Fonville3Dieuwertje Hoornstra4Lapo Mughini-Gras5Joppe W. Hovius6Hein Sprong7Cees van den Wijngaard8Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCentre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCentre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCentre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCenter for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers Location, Academic Medical CenterCentre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCenter for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers Location, Academic Medical CenterCentre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCentre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentAbstract Background The impact of infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) other than Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) on public health in Europe remains unclear. Our goal is to evaluate whether the presence of these TBPs in ticks can be associated with self-reported health complaints. Methods We enrolled individuals who were bitten by I. ricinus between 2012 and 2015 and collected their relevant demographic and clinical information using a self-administered online questionnaire. A total of 4163 I. ricinus ticks sent by the participants were subject to molecular analyses for detection of specific TBPs. Associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks and self-reported complaints and symptoms were evaluated by means of a stepwise approach using a generalized linear model (GLM). Results Of 17 self-reported complaints and symptoms significant in the univariate analyses, 3 had a highly significant association (P < 0.01) with at least one TBP in the multivariate analysis. Self-reported Lyme borreliosis was significantly associated (P < 0.001) with B. burgdorferi (s.l.) infection. Facial paralysis was associated (P < 0.01) with infection with B. miyamotoi, N. mikurensis and R. helvetica. Finally, a significant association (P < 0.001) was found between nocturnal sweating and A. phagocytophilum. Conclusions We found associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks feeding on humans and self-reported symptoms. Due to the subjective nature of such reports and the fact that infection was determined in the ticks and not in the patient samples, further prospective studies utilizing diagnostic modalities should be performed before any clinical outcome can be causally linked to infection with TBPs. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05228-4Tick-borne diseasesIxodes ricinus |
| spellingShingle | Tal Azagi Margriet Harms Arno Swart Manoj Fonville Dieuwertje Hoornstra Lapo Mughini-Gras Joppe W. Hovius Hein Sprong Cees van den Wijngaard Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens Parasites & Vectors Tick-borne diseases Ixodes ricinus |
| title | Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
| title_full | Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
| title_fullStr | Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
| title_short | Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
| title_sort | self reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to ixodes ricinus borne pathogens |
| topic | Tick-borne diseases Ixodes ricinus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05228-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT talazagi selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT margrietharms selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT arnoswart selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT manojfonville selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT dieuwertjehoornstra selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT lapomughinigras selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT joppewhovius selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT heinsprong selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens AT ceesvandenwijngaard selfreportedsymptomsandhealthcomplaintsassociatedwithexposuretoixodesricinusbornepathogens |