One year follow-up study to assess the prevalence and incidence of Lyme borreliosis among dutch forestry workers

Abstract

A one-year serological and clinical follow-up study was conducted to assess the prevalence and incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi among 151 Dutch forestry workers. The prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi among the forestry workers and among office employees as control group was compared. Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi were detected by enzyme immunoassay. Forestry workers were examined physically at the start of the study. Clinical follow-up of forestry workers whose first blood sample was positive and of persons showing seroconversion was done by telephone interview. If Lyme borreliosis was suspected, clinical and laboratory data were obtained. The seroprevalence was significantly higher among forestry workers (28%) than among controls (5%). Of 127 forestry workers who were examined, 7 (18%) of the 39 seropositive persons but none of the seronegative persons had a history of Lyme borreliosis. None of 32 asymptomatic seropositive forestry workers had developed Lyme borreliosis one year later. The incidence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi as demonstrated by seroconversion among 95 initially seronegative forestry workers was 5%. None of them had Lyme borreliosis. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi among forestry workers is frequent but seems to take a benign course.

Incidence and hospitalisation rates of Lyme borreliosis, France, 2004 to 2012

“…Occupations such as forest workers, hunters, rangers, gamekeepers, farmers and military field personnel have an especially high risk of contracting LB. This has been shown in several studies on antibody prevalence in human blood and on disease incidence (Cristofolini et al, 1993;Kuiper et al, 1993;Nuti et al, 1993;Oksi & Viljanen, 1995;Santino et al, 1997;Zhioua et al, 1997;Ciceroni & Ciarrocchi, 1998;Stamouli et al, 2000;Goossens et al, 2001;Pancewicz et al, 2001;Štefančiková et al, 2001). Certain recreational habits are linked to increased risk of disease, such as orienteering, hunting, gardening and picnicking (EUCALB; Zeman, 1997;Gray et al, 1998a).…”

Prevalence and incidence of Lyme borreliosis among Slovene forestry workers during the period of tick activity

“…Among Dutch foresters, the oneyear incidence of infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. demonstrated by seroconversion was 5% [12].…”

“…There have been numerous studies to assess the occupational risk of infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. for forestry workers in different countries around Europe, and 7.6-43.6% of forestry workers have tested positive for borrelial antibodies [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. In a study among foresters in Slovenia in 1990 and 1991, 13.3% were considered seropositive [22].…”

Dogs as Sentinels for Human Lyme Borreliosis in The Netherlands

“…J. Med. 320:183, 1989), yet in Europe the relationship of dog ownership and an increased risk of Lyme disease for the dog owners has not been studied.People recreating or working in tick-infested areas like forests show an increased prevalence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi compared to that for controls (22,23,36). Parallel to the findings for people with high levels of outdoor activity, a higher seroprevalence of antibodies B. burgdorferi could be expected for hunting dogs compared to that for controls.…”