Document ID (ISN) | 78589 |
CIS number |
02-940 |
ISSN - Serial title |
0376-7639 - Médecine du travail & Ergonomie / Arbeidsgezondheitszorg & Ergonomie |
Year |
2001 |
Convention or series no. |
|
Title |
Sero-prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi among Flemish forestry workers |
Original title |
Seroprevalentie van Borrelia burgorferi bij Vlaamse bosarbeiders [in Dutch] |
Bibliographic information |
2001, Vol.XXXVIII, No.3, p.113-118. 28 ref. |
Abstract |
The number of registered cases of Lyme disease has been increasing each year in Belgium. To evaluate the impact of Lyme disease among forest workers, a sero-prevalence study was conducted in 1996, involving 261 employees of the forestry department of the Flemish community. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi responsible for Lyme disease. The frequency of tick bites in the past year and the extent of self-reported symptoms of employees Lyme disease were also noted. It was found that 9% of the investigated population had a positive serology (IgM or lgG antibodies measured by ELISA and immunofluorescence) for B. burgdorferi.The forestry workers reported an average of 17 tick bites per year. The highest levels were reported in the provinces of Limburg, Antwerp and Flemish Brabant. 13% of the employees retrospectively reported a skin rash which resembled erythema chronicum migrans (ECM). This study showed that the risk of Lyme disease is real and correlates with the high degree of exposure. |
Descriptors (primary) |
forestry; determination in blood; Lyme disease; Belgium |
Descriptors (secondary) |
symptoms; erythema; frequency rates; immunology; fluorescent antibody test; hazard evaluation |
Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
Country / State or Province | Belgium |
Subject(s) |
Forestry
|
Broad subject area(s) |
Biological hazards
|
Browse category(ies) |
Forestry and logging Bacterial and parasitic diseases
|