Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseases
Abstract Background Tick-borne pathogens other than Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato – the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis – are common in Ixodes ricinus ticks. How often these pathogens cause human disease is unknown. In addition, diagnostic tools to identify such diseases are lacking or reserve...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06190-9 |
| _version_ | 1818647963411415040 |
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| author | D. Hoornstra M. G. Harms S. A. Gauw A. Wagemakers T. Azagi K. Kremer H. Sprong C. C. van den Wijngaard J. W. Hovius |
| author_facet | D. Hoornstra M. G. Harms S. A. Gauw A. Wagemakers T. Azagi K. Kremer H. Sprong C. C. van den Wijngaard J. W. Hovius |
| author_sort | D. Hoornstra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Tick-borne pathogens other than Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato – the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis – are common in Ixodes ricinus ticks. How often these pathogens cause human disease is unknown. In addition, diagnostic tools to identify such diseases are lacking or reserved to research laboratories. To elucidate their prevalence and disease burden, the study ‘Ticking on Pandora’s Box’ has been initiated, a collaborative effort between Amsterdam University Medical Center and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. Methods The study investigates how often the tick-borne pathogens Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia species, Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, spotted fever group Rickettsia species and/or tick-borne encephalitis virus cause an acute febrile illness after tick-bite. We aim to determine the impact and severity of these tick-borne diseases in the Netherlands by measuring their prevalence and describing their clinical picture and course of disease. The study is designed as a prospective case-control study. We aim to include 150 cases – individuals clinically suspected of a tick-borne disease – and 3 matched healthy control groups of 200 persons each. The controls consist respectively of a group of individuals with either a tick-bite without complaints, the general population and of healthy blood donors. During a one-year follow-up we will acquire blood, urine and skin biopsy samples and ticks at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks. Additionally, participants answer modified versions of validated questionnaires to assess self-reported symptoms, among which the SF-36, on a 3 monthly basis. Discussion This article describes the background and design of the study protocol of ‘Ticking on Pandora’s Box’. With our study we hope to provide insight into the prevalence, clinical presentation and disease burden of the tick-borne diseases anaplasmosis, babesiosis, B. miyamotoi disease, neoehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis and tick-borne encephalitis and to assist in test development as well as provide recommendations for national guidelines. Trial registration NL9258 (retrospectively registered at Netherlands Trial Register, trialregister.nl in in February 2021). |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:10:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ada173e5b0a40008fbf5cb3c73a76f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:10:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ada173e5b0a40008fbf5cb3c73a76f12022-12-21T22:09:09ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342021-05-012111810.1186/s12879-021-06190-9Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseasesD. Hoornstra0M. G. Harms1S. A. Gauw2A. Wagemakers3T. Azagi4K. Kremer5H. Sprong6C. C. van den Wijngaard7J. W. Hovius8Amsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of AmsterdamNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease ControlAmsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of AmsterdamAmsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of AmsterdamNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease ControlNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease ControlNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease ControlNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease ControlAmsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of AmsterdamAbstract Background Tick-borne pathogens other than Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato – the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis – are common in Ixodes ricinus ticks. How often these pathogens cause human disease is unknown. In addition, diagnostic tools to identify such diseases are lacking or reserved to research laboratories. To elucidate their prevalence and disease burden, the study ‘Ticking on Pandora’s Box’ has been initiated, a collaborative effort between Amsterdam University Medical Center and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. Methods The study investigates how often the tick-borne pathogens Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia species, Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, spotted fever group Rickettsia species and/or tick-borne encephalitis virus cause an acute febrile illness after tick-bite. We aim to determine the impact and severity of these tick-borne diseases in the Netherlands by measuring their prevalence and describing their clinical picture and course of disease. The study is designed as a prospective case-control study. We aim to include 150 cases – individuals clinically suspected of a tick-borne disease – and 3 matched healthy control groups of 200 persons each. The controls consist respectively of a group of individuals with either a tick-bite without complaints, the general population and of healthy blood donors. During a one-year follow-up we will acquire blood, urine and skin biopsy samples and ticks at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks. Additionally, participants answer modified versions of validated questionnaires to assess self-reported symptoms, among which the SF-36, on a 3 monthly basis. Discussion This article describes the background and design of the study protocol of ‘Ticking on Pandora’s Box’. With our study we hope to provide insight into the prevalence, clinical presentation and disease burden of the tick-borne diseases anaplasmosis, babesiosis, B. miyamotoi disease, neoehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis and tick-borne encephalitis and to assist in test development as well as provide recommendations for national guidelines. Trial registration NL9258 (retrospectively registered at Netherlands Trial Register, trialregister.nl in in February 2021).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06190-9Prospective case-control studyStudy protocolIxodes ricinus ticksTick-borne pathogensTick-borne diseasesHard tick-borne fever |
| spellingShingle | D. Hoornstra M. G. Harms S. A. Gauw A. Wagemakers T. Azagi K. Kremer H. Sprong C. C. van den Wijngaard J. W. Hovius Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseases BMC Infectious Diseases Prospective case-control study Study protocol Ixodes ricinus ticks Tick-borne pathogens Tick-borne diseases Hard tick-borne fever |
| title | Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseases |
| title_full | Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseases |
| title_fullStr | Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseases |
| title_short | Ticking on Pandora’s box: a prospective case-control study into ‘other’ tick-borne diseases |
| title_sort | ticking on pandora s box a prospective case control study into other tick borne diseases |
| topic | Prospective case-control study Study protocol Ixodes ricinus ticks Tick-borne pathogens Tick-borne diseases Hard tick-borne fever |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06190-9 |
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