Lyme disease in the Ivory Coast: a serological survey in Abidjan

Objective. – The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in the Ivory Coast.Patients. – One hundred sixty-eight patients were split up into 3 groups. Group A (N =60) was made up of cattle farmers exposed to the tick’s bite due to their occupation. Group B (N =48) was made up of hospitalized patients in the neurological and or rhumatological department of the Abidjan university hospital center. Group C (N =60) was made up of asymptomatic blood donors.Method and results. – The anti borrelia (Ig G) global seroprevalence by Western blotting was 33%. The seroprevalence in groups A, B, and C was respectively 21, 83 and 20%. The analysis of electrophoretic profile by Western blotting of B. burgdorferi B31 proteins revealed that the flagellin and Osp B were respectively identified in 43 and 80% of tested sera. Nevertheless, in 87 to 90% of the cases, OspC was absent.Conclusion. – It seems necessary to assess the presence of Borrelia in the Ivory Coast by further studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]