Abstract
The frequency of tick bites, risk factors, as well as simple outcome measures after tick bites in a healthy adult population (blood donors) from Sogn and Fjordane county situated at the western coast of Norway, was assessed. The study was based on cross-sectional data from blood donors at 4 different blood banks in the county during the period January to June 2010. Data on tick bites and potential risk factors were collected from 1213 blood donors using a questionnaire. Among participants, 65.7% had experienced tick bites during their life time, whereas 30% reported recent tick bites (during the latest 12 months). There were fewer tick bites in the eastern, inland part of the county, where the tick Ixodes ricinus is less prevalent compared to the western, coastal regions. The number of total and recent tick bites increased with the respondent's age, hours spent outdoors during summertime, educational level, ownership of domestic animals, and hunting. Women older than 50 years reported more bites than similarly aged men and younger females.Among bitten subjects, 22.7% reported ever having had a rash around a tick bite, whereas 12.7% had seen a medical doctor and 7.7% had received antibiotics owing to tick bite. Avoiding certain locations owing to a fear of tick bites was reported by 15.7% of all respondents, more women than men.In conclusion, tick bites are common in the western part of Norway. The risk of being bitten varies with age and outdoor activities, animal contact, and geography. The consequences in terms of disease seem modest.
Highlights
The many different microorganisms that cause tick-borne diseases in humans are transferred from animal to animal by tick vectors
There were no indications that tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is established as a human disease in the area, but there were serological indications that human granulocytic anaplasmosis should be considered in patients with compatible symptoms after a tick bite
Subjective health complaints are not associated with tick bites or antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in blood donors in western Norway: a cross-sectional study
Summary
The many different microorganisms that cause tick-borne diseases in humans are transferred from animal to animal by tick vectors. Special emphasis is given to the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and its associated human disease, Lyme borreliosis. Human tick-borne diseases in Norway are dominated by Lyme borreliosis, with a distribution corresponding to that of I. ricinus, with the highest incidence along the southern coastline. The most prevalent human tickborne disease in the country is Lyme borreliosis, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). There is controversy about chronic health consequences of tick-borne infections, especially Lyme borreliosis. Some American studies have reported that LB patients experience long-lasting symptoms [8, 9], while other investigations found that symptoms at follow-up did not exceed that of a control population [10–14].
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