1. [Seroprevalence of Lyme Borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis in workers at risk, in eastern France].
- Author
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Thorin C, Rigaud E, Capek I, André-Fontaine G, Oster B, Gastinger G, and Abadia G
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Animals, Antibodies, Bacterial blood, Antibodies, Viral blood, Arachnid Vectors microbiology, Arachnid Vectors virology, Bites and Stings epidemiology, Bites and Stings microbiology, Bites and Stings virology, Borrelia burgdorferi immunology, Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne immunology, Encephalitis, Tick-Borne prevention & control, Encephalitis, Tick-Borne transmission, Female, France epidemiology, Humans, Lyme Disease prevention & control, Lyme Disease transmission, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Diseases prevention & control, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Ticks microbiology, Ticks virology, Young Adult, Encephalitis, Tick-Borne epidemiology, Forestry, Lyme Disease epidemiology, Occupational Diseases epidemiology
- Abstract
Objective: The aim of this article was to assess the seroprevalence of Lyme Borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) among occupationally exposed forest workers., Methods: Workers exposed to tick bites in Eastern France were interviewed by occupational health physicians of the mutualité sociale agricole (MSA) on their sociodemographic features, their occupational activity, their last tick bite, their clinical history, and their means of prevention. Blood sampling was carried out for antibody detection., Results: Among the 2975 subjects included in the study, the observed seroprevalence was 14.1% for Lyme borreliosis and 3.4% for TBE. Age, occupational activity, and place of residence significantly influenced the serological status of Lyme borreliosis. The seroprevalence was significantly higher among woodcutters (17.5%) than among other occupational categories (p<.001). Seroprevalence in Alsace (26.9%) and Lorraine (16.5%) were significantly higher than in other regions (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). The seroprevalence of TBE was significantly higher in Alsace (5.5%; p<0.001). The rates of seroprevalence for both infections varied according to forest areas. The multifactorial analysis of prevention practices revealed three types of behaviors as far as protection was concerned: "rigorous", "partial", or "insufficient"., Conclusion: These results do not change the present French indications for use of TBE vaccine. They highlight the importance of information on these diseases and the need for further studies on microbial ecology and risk-factors identification.
- Published
- 2008
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