The investigation of seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Rickettsia conorii in people living in forest villages of Sinop

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi , the causative agent of Lyme disease, and Rickettsia conorii , the causative agent of Mediterranean spotted fever, in the Sinop region. Method: In 2006 and 2007, the blood serum of 184 people, living in the villages of the central district of Sinop, was obtained and stored at 80ºC until the study. In these sera, IgG antibodies reactive to B. burgdorferi and R. conorii were investigated by ELISA method. Results: Antibody positivity was found against B. burgdorferi in 36.41% and R. conorii in 45.10% of 184 people living in rural areas of Sinop. Reactive antibodies against B. burgdorferi were detected in 47.62% of 42 people with a history of redness and swelling at the contact site after the tick bite, and in 28.95% of 76 people without these symptoms (p= 0.043, OR=2.23) . The seropositivity to R. conorii was found in 57.14% and 46.05% of persons with and without these symptoms, respectively (p= 0.363, OR= 1.56). There was a statistically significant increase in seroprevalence of both B. burgdorferi and R. conorii with increasing age (p<0.05). R. conorii and B. burgdorferi co-seroprevalence were determined in 16.85% of serum samples. Since the ELISA test results in both pathogens were not repeated with confirmation tests, these findings were considered possible. Conclusions: The findings obtained in this study revealed that Sinop and similar ecological features should be evaluated within the endemic regions for B. burgdorferi and R. conorii . It should be paying attention that infections from both pathogens may be likely to appear at these regions.