Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is not notifiable in many European countries, and accurate data on the incidence are often lacking. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato (s.l.)-specific antibodies in the general population of The Netherlands, an...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/4/1081 |
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| author | B. J. A. Hoeve-Bakker Oda E. van den Berg H. S. Doppenberg Fiona R. M. van der Klis Cees C. van den Wijngaard Jan A. J. W. Kluytmans Steven F. T. Thijsen Karen Kerkhof |
| author_facet | B. J. A. Hoeve-Bakker Oda E. van den Berg H. S. Doppenberg Fiona R. M. van der Klis Cees C. van den Wijngaard Jan A. J. W. Kluytmans Steven F. T. Thijsen Karen Kerkhof |
| author_sort | B. J. A. Hoeve-Bakker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lyme borreliosis (LB) is not notifiable in many European countries, and accurate data on the incidence are often lacking. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato (s.l.)-specific antibodies in the general population of The Netherlands, and to determine risk factors associated with seropositivity. Sera and questionnaires were obtained from participants (n = 5592, aged 0–88 years) enrolled in a nationwide serosurveillance study. The sera were tested for <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s.l.-specific IgM and IgG antibodies using ELISA and immunoblot. Seroprevalence was estimated controlling for the survey design. Risk factors for seropositivity were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed-effect model. In 2016/2017, the seroprevalence in The Netherlands was 4.4% (95% CI 3.5–5.2). Estimates were higher in men (5.7% [95% CI 4.4–7.2]) than in women (3.1% [95% CI 2.0–4.0]), and increased with age from 2.6% (95% CI 1.4–4.4) in children to 7.7% (95% CI 5.9–7.9) in 60- to 88-year-olds. The seroprevalence for <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s.l. in the general population in The Netherlands was comparable to rates reported in European countries. The main risk factors for seropositivity were increasing age, being male and the tick bite frequency. The dynamics of LB infection are complex and involve variables from various disciplines. This could be further elucidated using infectious disease modelling. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:42:55Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:42:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d28c4cd5846941d7bb4343d824503f042023-11-17T20:34:44ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-04-01114108110.3390/microorganisms11041081Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional StudyB. J. A. Hoeve-Bakker0Oda E. van den Berg1H. S. Doppenberg2Fiona R. M. van der Klis3Cees C. van den Wijngaard4Jan A. J. W. Kluytmans5Steven F. T. Thijsen6Karen Kerkhof7Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3721 MA Bilthoven, The NetherlandsCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3721 MA Bilthoven, The NetherlandsCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3721 MA Bilthoven, The NetherlandsCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3721 MA Bilthoven, The NetherlandsCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3721 MA Bilthoven, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Diakonessenhuis Hospital, 3582 KE Utrecht, The NetherlandsCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3721 MA Bilthoven, The NetherlandsLyme borreliosis (LB) is not notifiable in many European countries, and accurate data on the incidence are often lacking. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato (s.l.)-specific antibodies in the general population of The Netherlands, and to determine risk factors associated with seropositivity. Sera and questionnaires were obtained from participants (n = 5592, aged 0–88 years) enrolled in a nationwide serosurveillance study. The sera were tested for <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s.l.-specific IgM and IgG antibodies using ELISA and immunoblot. Seroprevalence was estimated controlling for the survey design. Risk factors for seropositivity were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed-effect model. In 2016/2017, the seroprevalence in The Netherlands was 4.4% (95% CI 3.5–5.2). Estimates were higher in men (5.7% [95% CI 4.4–7.2]) than in women (3.1% [95% CI 2.0–4.0]), and increased with age from 2.6% (95% CI 1.4–4.4) in children to 7.7% (95% CI 5.9–7.9) in 60- to 88-year-olds. The seroprevalence for <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s.l. in the general population in The Netherlands was comparable to rates reported in European countries. The main risk factors for seropositivity were increasing age, being male and the tick bite frequency. The dynamics of LB infection are complex and involve variables from various disciplines. This could be further elucidated using infectious disease modelling.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/4/1081<i>Borrelia</i>epidemiologyC6 Lyme ELISAimmunoblotmultivariable analysisserology |
| spellingShingle | B. J. A. Hoeve-Bakker Oda E. van den Berg H. S. Doppenberg Fiona R. M. van der Klis Cees C. van den Wijngaard Jan A. J. W. Kluytmans Steven F. T. Thijsen Karen Kerkhof Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study Microorganisms <i>Borrelia</i> epidemiology C6 Lyme ELISA immunoblot multivariable analysis serology |
| title | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | seroprevalence and risk factors of lyme borreliosis in the netherlands a population based cross sectional study |
| topic | <i>Borrelia</i> epidemiology C6 Lyme ELISA immunoblot multivariable analysis serology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/4/1081 |
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