Associations Between Personal Protective Measures and Self-Reported Tick-Borne Disease Diagnosis in Indiana Residents

Kianersi, Sina; Luetke, Maya; Wolfe, Caryn Gail; Clark, William; Omodior, Oghenekaro

doi:10.1007/s10900-020-00789-w

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Based on a literature review, Richardson et al [23] confirmed the effectiveness of personal protection strategies, such as the use of tick repellents and protective clothes in reducing tick bites and the incidence of LB. Also, a study on Indiana residents in the USA showed that inspection of the body and using a repellent were protective against selfreported diagnoses of tick-borne disease [24]. However, Eisen [25] indicated that the results of reviewed studies varied and depended on each personal protection measure, and some of these studies found no protective effect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, protection behaviours and seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in inhabitants of Lublin Province , eastern Poland – evaluation of a prophylaxis programme

Zając,

Sroka,

Wójcik-Fatla

2023

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Introduction and Objective. Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most frequent tick-borne disease with 17,338 cases reported in Poland in 2022. Since research on a LB vaccine is still ongoing, the promotion of individual behaviours and limiting of tick exposure is one of the most effective ways to prevent LB. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the LB prevention programme by assessing the knowledge, practice behaviours, seroprevalence of LB and satisfaction among the population of the Lublin Province in eastern Poland. Materials and method. The prevention programme was carried out among 2,920 participants who were asked about their exposure to ticks, history of LB and prevention behaviours. Awareness of knowledge was evaluated before and after training. Seroprevalence of LB was rated by ELISA and immunoblot assays. Results. Over 73% of participants reported tick bites in their lifetime, without significant differences between rural and urban area inhabitants. More than 80% of individuals declared that they use protective measures (PPM), such as proper clothes and body checking; repellents were the least frequently used by participants. The diagnosis of LB but not tick bites in a lifetime influenced the more frequent use of PPM. Increase in knowledge was observed in 86% of participants after education, and the highest knowledge was noted among respondents with higher education. The seroprevalence of anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies was 37% and was higher among men than women (40% vs. 36%). Conclusions. The population of Lublin Province is highly exposed to tick bites and infection with B. burgdorferi. The high seroprevalence and increase in knowledge confirmed the effectiveness and need for preventive programmes. These results can be useful for optimizing and enhancing the effects of future prevention campaigns.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, protection behaviours and seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in inhabitants of Lublin Province , eastern Poland – evaluation of a prophylaxis programme

Zając,

Sroka,

Wójcik-Fatla

2023

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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“…The researchers did not ascertain whether survey respondents have a history of TBDs, or measure respondents’ perception of their own risk. These data are important and should be examined in future works due to the link between one’s history of experience with a TBD and how risk perception can influence tick bite prevention behaviors and beliefs [ 23 , 43 ]. Nonetheless, it is likely that the survey participants perceive they are at risk, given that they chose to engage with social media and internet sources that focus on TBD prevention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Trusted Sources of Lyme Disease Prevention Information Among Internet Users Connected to Academic Public Health Resources: Internet-Based Survey Study

Kopsco¹,

Krell²,

Mather³

et al. 2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Misinformation about Lyme disease and other tick-transmitted pathogens circulates frequently on the internet and can compete with, or even overshadow, science-based guidance on tick-borne disease (TBD) prevention. Objective We surveyed internet users connected to academic tick-related resources to identify trusted sources of Lyme disease prevention information, explore confidence in tick bite prevention information, and examine associations of these responses with answers to commonly disputed issues. Methods The survey was conducted through social media and website pages for Western Connecticut State University Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory and the University of Rhode Island TickEncounter Resource Center. Results Respondents (N=1190) were predominantly female (903/1190, 76.3%), middle-aged (574/1182, 48.6%), and resided in New England states (663/1190, 55.7%). In total 984 of 1186 (83%) respondents identified conventional experts (eg, the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] or other government health agencies, physicians who follow Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for Lyme disease treatment guidelines, and academics) as trustworthy TBD prevention resources. However, nearly one-fourth of respondents would first consult personal contacts and web-based communities regarding prevention information before consulting conventional expert sources. The opinions of public health experts and physicians were rated among the top motivators underlying personal prevention decisions; yet, more than 50% of participants revealed distrustful attitudes toward, or were uncertain about, CDC-supported statements related to time to transmission of Lyme disease (708/1190, 59.5%), the safety of diethyltoluamide-based repellents for children (604/1183, 51.1%), and recommended use of antibiotic prophylaxis (773/1181, 65.4%). Multimodal regression models revealed that participants from high-Lyme-disease-incidence states were more likely to first seek TBD prevention information from personal networks and nontraditional sources before approaching conventional sources of TBD prevention information. We found that those reporting high rates of social media usage were more than twice as likely to first seek traditional expert sources of prevention information but were overall more likely to reject CDC-promoted Lyme disease information, in particular the established time to transmission of Lyme disease bacteria. Models also predicted that those participants who disagreed with the conventional scientific view on the antibiotic prophylaxis prevention statement were less likely to be confident in their ability to protect themselves from a tick bite. Overall, uncertainty in one’s ability to protect oneself against tick bites was strongly associated with uncertainty about beliefs in CDC-promoted TBD prevention information. Self-reported trust in experts and frequency of social media use suggest that these platforms may provide opportunities to engage directly with the public about TBD prevention practices. Conclusions Using strategies to improve public trust and provide information where the public engages on social media may improve prevention communication and adoption of best practices.

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“…Practicing PPM such as staying on trails, applying insect repellent (on skin and clothing), conducting a body check after being outdoors, washing clothes in hot water, and wearing clothing with good coverage (including tucking pants into socks) is essential [108]. For example, in several studies in the Midwest and the northeastern USA, researchers found that people who used insect repellent and performed a thorough body check after being outdoors were less likely to report a TBD diagnosis [108][109][110], suggesting the importance of PPM.…”

Section: Tick Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of Ixodes pacificus Ticks and Associated Pathogens in the Western United States

et al. 2022

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Lyme disease is the most important vector-borne disease in the United States and is increasing in incidence and geographic range. In the Pacific west, the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, 1943 is an important vector of the causative agent of Lyme disease, the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Ixodes pacificus life cycle is expected to be more than a year long, and all three stages (larva, nymph, and adult) overlap in spring. The optimal habitat consists of forest cover, cooler temperatures, and annual precipitation in the range of 200–500 mm. Therefore, the coastal areas of California, Oregon, and Washington are well suited for these ticks. Immature stages commonly parasitize Western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) and gray squirrels (Sciurus griseus), while adults often feed on deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and black-tailed deer (Odocoileus h. columbianus). Ixodes pacificus carry several pathogens of human significance, such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella, and Rickettsiales. These pathogens are maintained in the environment by many hosts, including small mammals, birds, livestock, and domestic animals. Although a great deal of work has been carried out on Ixodes ticks and the pathogens they transmit, understanding I. pacificus ecology outside California still lags. Additionally, the dynamic vector–host–pathogen system means that new factors will continue to arise and shift the epidemiological patterns within specific areas. Here, we review the ecology of I. pacificus and the pathogens this tick is known to carry to identify gaps in our knowledge.

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Associations Between Personal Protective Measures and Self-Reported Tick-Borne Disease Diagnosis in Indiana Residents

Cited by 10 publications

References 27 publications

Knowledge, protection behaviours and seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in inhabitants of Lublin Province , eastern Poland – evaluation of a prophylaxis programme

Knowledge, protection behaviours and seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in inhabitants of Lublin Province , eastern Poland – evaluation of a prophylaxis programme

Identifying Trusted Sources of Lyme Disease Prevention Information Among Internet Users Connected to Academic Public Health Resources: Internet-Based Survey Study

Ecology of Ixodes pacificus Ticks and Associated Pathogens in the Western United States

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