Thomas D R, Sillis M, Coleman T J, Kench S M, Ogden N H, Salmon R L, Morgan-Capner P, Softley P, Meadows D
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Epidemiol Infect. 1998 Dec;121(3):609-14. doi: 10.1017/s0950268898001514.
To determine the occupational significance of tick-borne zoonoses we sought serological evidence of Lyme borreliosis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) in a representative sample of farmworkers. Although around 20% reported ticks on their domestic and companion animals, few (< 2% per year) reported being bitten by ticks. Seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis (0.2%), HME (0.2%) and HGE (1.5%) was low. Those seropositive for HGE were no more likely to report tick bites nor more likely to report ticks on their animals. This study provides evidence that farmworkers in England are exposed to tick-borne zoonoses but that they are uncommon. Since the severity of these diseases is linked to delays in diagnosis and treatment, clinicians should be aware of these diagnoses in patients from rural communities, with or without a self-reported history of tick bite.
为了确定蜱传人畜共患病的职业意义，我们在一个有代表性的农场工人样本中寻找莱姆病、人类单核细胞埃立克体病（HME）和人类粒细胞埃立克体病（HGE）的血清学证据。尽管约20%的人报告其家养动物和伴侣动物身上有蜱虫，但很少有人（每年<2%）报告被蜱虫叮咬。莱姆病（0.2%）、HME（0.2%）和HGE（1.5%）的血清阳性率较低。HGE血清阳性者报告蜱虫叮咬的可能性并不更高，报告其动物身上有蜱虫的可能性也不更高。这项研究提供了证据，表明英格兰的农场工人接触蜱传人畜共患病，但这些疾病并不常见。由于这些疾病的严重程度与诊断和治疗的延迟有关，临床医生应对来自农村社区的患者（无论是否有自我报告的蜱虫叮咬史）知晓这些诊断。
