Sero-epidemiological study of Lyme disease among high-risk population groups in eastern Slovakia
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2015, Vol 22, Issue 4
Abstract
[b]IIntroduction and objective.[/b] The aim of the presented cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study was to determine the current presence of antibodies against [i]B. burgdorferi s.l.[/i] in the high-risk groups of the Slovak population, and to identify potential risk factors to LB infections. [b]Materials and method.[/b] A group of 277 agricultural and forestry workers – persons with frequent stay in the countryside and employees of State Border and Customs Police – from years 2011–2012 in the Eastern Slovakia were examined in order to assess the seroprevalence of anti-[i]Borrelia[/i] antibodies. Sera were screened by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study subjects completed a questionnaires with general demographic, epidemiological and clinical data. The results were evaluated statistically. [b]Results. [/b]A 25.3% presence of positive and 8.7% presence of borderline IgG antibodies was detected in all investigated groups. The seroprevalence of [i]B. burgdorferi s.l[/i]. was significantly higher (P<0.05) among the agricultural and forestry workers when compared to employees of State Border and Customs Police. Higher seropositivity was observed in older subjects over 30 years of age (P=0.004) than those who were younger, and also in males (P=0.045). A significant number of persons with rheumatologic conditions was statistically higher (P=0.020) in the group with seropositivity than in the group with seronegativity. [b]Conclusions.[/b] The presented study confirms the higher risk of [i]Borrelia [/i]infection in individuals with frequent exposure to ticks in eastern Slovakia. The seropositivity tests confirmed the highest seropositivity in agriculture and forestry workers, middle positivity was confirmed among other sector workers, and lowest positivity in policemen and employees of the Customs and Border Inspection. The outputs also simultaneously filling the gap of missing seroprevalence data among these exposed groups.
Authors and Affiliations
Ľubica Zákutná, Erik Dorko, Eva Mattová, Kvetoslava Rimárová
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP81024
- DOI -
- Views 113
- Downloads 0
Environmental exposure of pregnant women to infection with Toxoplasma gondii--state of the art.
Infection with T. gondii is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it may lead to the transplacental passage of the parasite. Currently, congenital toxoplasmosis is the second most frequent intrauterine infection....
Selected breast cancer risk factors and early detection of the neoplasm in women from Lublin region attending screening program in St. John’s Cancer Center, years 2005–2006
[b]introduction and objective[/b]. In Poland, consulting is offered to women about risk factors of breast cancer, breast symptoms and early cancer detection. Study aims were to evaluate the correlation between some risk...
Psychosocial factors and health status of employees at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences
Introduction: New opportunities in the labour market, competition in services and globalization have contributed to the increase in load factors in the psychosocial work environment. Availability, readiness to help, work...
Epidemiological analysis of health situation development in Europe and its causes until 1990
The enormous health gap between the ‘new’ (eastern) and ‘old’ (western) parts of the EU has evolved over many decades. The epidemiological transition – that is the decrease in the relative importance of infant and early...
Prevalence of psychopathic traits in a large sample of Polish adolescents from rural and urban areas
[b][/b][b]Objective.[/b] The primary aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of psychopathic traits in a large sample of Polish adolescents representing both the rural and urban social milieu. An additional aim was...