Abstract
BackgroundAs forest is the preferred environment for ticks, forestry workers are exposed to tick bites and tick-borne diseases. We assessed the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies and investigated, using an integrated landscape approach, the individual and environmental factors associated with the seroprevalence of Bb in Belgian forestry workers, a high-risk group in Belgium.MethodsA group of 310 Belgian forest workers was examined to assess the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies. Using principal component analysis and binary logistic regression, the joint effects of individual characteristics and environmental characteristics were examined.ResultsSixty-seven of the 310 workers were seropositive for Lyme disease (LD), leading to a seroprevalence of 21.6%. The seroprevalence was higher among forest workers visiting forests more frequently (P = 0.003) or who reported over 100 tick bites (P-value < 0.001). The intensity of tick bites and the use of protection measures against tick bites have a positive impact on LD seroprevalence while the quantity of shadow from trees at ground level had a negative one.ConclusionsThis study showed that forest workers are a population at risk for LD and, by extension, at risk for various tick-borne diseases. In addition to the role of the environment, our results also showed the importance of considering exposure when predicting the risk of infection by Bb.
Highlights
As forest is the preferred environment for ticks, forestry workers are exposed to tick bites and tick-borne diseases
Seroprevalence was higher in individuals who reported over 100 tick bites (OR = 5.94; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 3.24–10.90; P < 0.001)
Tick-borne diseases are present in forests of Belgium, as shown by this sero-epidemiological study performed on forestry workers
Summary
As forest is the preferred environment for ticks, forestry workers are exposed to tick bites and tick-borne diseases. As forests and wooded areas are the preferred environment for ticks, forestry workers and other populations in close contact with outdoor environments, such as farmers, veterinarians, hunters, orienteers, mushrooms or berry pickers, are at high risk of tick bites and exposed to tick-borne diseases (TBD) [1]. Studying these groups can inform about tick-borne diseases and their spatial distribution [2]. The main vector of TBD in Europe is Ixodes ricinus [3]. As the vegetation used by ticks for sheltering and questing is most abundant in forests, as well as hosts used for blood-feeding, forestry workers are at risk of tick bites and TBD
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