Seroprevalence of tick-borne Lyme borreliosis in a defined population in Estonia

Scand J Infect Dis. 1999;31(4):421-2. doi: 10.1080/00365549950163923.

Abstract

Sera from 200 randomly selected individuals living in Karksi Nuia, south Estonia, near an area endemic for tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis (LB), were tested for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 6 individuals (3%; 95% CI: 1-5%), who were middle-aged, asymptomatic anti-nuclear and anti-smooth muscle antibody negative. Our data show that there is low seroprevalence rate of antibodies to B. burgdorferi in an unselected south Estonian population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / analysis
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / isolation & purification*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Estonia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sampling Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan