Kaya Ayse Demet, Parlak Ali Haydar, Ozturk Cihadiye Elif, Behcet Mustafa
Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Konuralp, Duzce, Turkey.
New Microbiol. 2008 Apr;31(2):203-9.
Borrelia burgdorferi infection is the most frequent tick-transmitted disease worldwide. Our aim was to assess the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi infection among forestry workers and farmers in Duzce, in the north-west region of Turkey. Blood samples from 349 forestry workers and farmers and 193 healthy blood donors were obtained to determine the presence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi. A two-step testing strategy was used; the sera were initially tested by ELISA and then by Western blot (WB) IgG. Demographic data regarding residence, age, gender, profession, tick bite history, contact with animals, and symptoms involving the skin, nervous system, and osteoarticular system were collected by questionnaire. All results were evaluated statistically using the chi2 test. The seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi was 10.9% (n=38) in forestry workers and farmers and 2.6% (n=5) in blood donors by ELISA, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Seropositivity rates were related to age, gender, and common risk factors for the disease. IgG seropositivity was confirmed in four (1.1%) sera by WB. In this first seroepidemiological report from the northwest region of Turkey, tick bite exposure was found to be high, whereas B. burgdorferi infection was not common. Preventive measures against tick exposure and further studies to determine the distribution of Lyme disease in Turkey are proposed.
伯氏疏螺旋体感染是全球最常见的蜱传播疾病。我们的目的是评估土耳其西北部杜兹采的林业工人和农民中伯氏疏螺旋体感染的血清流行率。采集了349名林业工人和农民以及193名健康献血者的血样，以确定是否存在抗伯氏疏螺旋体抗体。采用两步检测策略；血清首先通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测，然后通过免疫印迹法（WB）检测IgG。通过问卷调查收集了有关居住、年龄、性别、职业、蜱叮咬史、与动物接触以及涉及皮肤、神经系统和骨关节炎系统症状的人口统计学数据。所有结果均使用卡方检验进行统计学评估。通过ELISA检测，林业工人和农民中伯氏疏螺旋体的血清流行率为10.9%（n = 38），献血者中为2.6%（n = 5），差异有统计学意义（p < 0.001）。血清阳性率与年龄、性别和该疾病的常见危险因素有关。通过WB在4份（1.1%）血清中确认了IgG血清阳性。在这份来自土耳其西北部的首份血清流行病学报告中，发现蜱叮咬暴露率很高，而伯氏疏螺旋体感染并不常见。建议采取预防蜱暴露的措施，并开展进一步研究以确定土耳其莱姆病的分布情况。
