Paradigm Burgenland: Risk of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection indicated by variable seroprevalence rates in hunters

Abstract

We found an overall seroprevalence of 54% in asymptomatic hunters of Burgenland. Infectious risk exists in the entire state but the prevalence rate differs in the various districts indicating a variable risk which peaks in the south. The nearly linear increase of seroprevalence with age and duration of hunting activity reflects repeated tick exposure.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in Austria

“…Since the mid-1980s, Austria has been recognised as an LB endemic area (Stanek et al, 1985(Stanek et al, , 1987(Stanek et al, , 1988Stu¨nzner et al, 1999) and, interestingly, a very recent Austrian study revealed a high seropositivity rate to B. burgdorferi s.l. (54%) among clinically asymptomatic Austrian hunters (n ¼ 1253) (Cetin et al, 2006). Although the sampling size was rather small, our study clearly confirms the risk of acquiring LB throughout Austria and, moreover, shows a clear trend concerning both the distribution of B. burgdorferi s.l.…”

A STING from a Tick : Epidemiology, Ecology and Clinical Aspects of Lyme Borreliosis

“…All this together may explain why the seroprevalence was higher among the participants from the Åland Islands compared to the participants from South Central Sweden and from Southernmost Sweden. The seroprevalence in the TBD STINGstudy (20%) is within the range of those reported from other Europe-an studies: in healthy blood donors the seroprevalence ranged between 2 and 24% (Ekerfelt et al, 2001;Fahrer et al, 1991a;Gustafson et al, 1993a;Hristea et al, 2001;Tjernberg et al, 2007;Tomao et al, 2005); in people living in endemic regions between 7 and 29% (Berglund & Eitrem, 1993;Carlsson et al, 1998;Gustafson et al, 1993b;Werner et al, 2001); and for people in high-risk groups (outdoor workers, orienteers and hunters) between 9 and 54% (Cetin et al, 2006;Fahrer et al, 1991a;Gustafson et al, 1993a;Hristea et al, 2001;Tomao et al, 2005).…”

Serum CXCL13 Chemokine is Not a Marker for Active Lyme Borreliosis

“…Most of the clinical symptoms described have a high prevalence in the general population and cannot be used to differentiate between LB and non-LB patients, as has been shown previously by Donta et al (10) and Seltzer et al (11). On the other hand, in an Austrian study, the seropositivity rate in the local population was up to 70%, depending on age and the risk of exposure to ticks (12). The seropositive individuals investigated did not have complaints compatible with chronic LB.…”