[Incidence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in farmers of the Lublin province]

Med Pr. 2003;54(2):139-44.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in farmers of the Lublin province. The study involved sero-epidemiological examinations of 242 farmers (the study group) and 50 healthy urban blood donors (the control group). In both tick-transmitted diseases, the frequency of sero-positive reactions was significantly higher in farmers than in controls. Serological examinations for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis showed 17.3% of positive results among farmers, and only 6.0% (p < 0.05) in the control group. The presence of specific antibodies IgG against Borrelia burgdorferi was observed in 15.3% of the farmers versus 4.0% (p < 0.05) in controls. In the IgM class, 14.0% of farmers showed positive reactions to B. burgdorferi, while in the control group no sero-positive reactions were noted (p < 0.01). The results of the study indicate that farmers are at increased risk of infection with zoonotic tick-transmitted diseases.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / immunology
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / isolation & purification*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Incidence
  • Insect Bites and Stings / complications
  • Insect Bites and Stings / epidemiology
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poland
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin M