1. Seroprevalence of seven pathogens transmitted by the Ixodes ricinus tick in forestry workers in France.
- Author
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Rigaud, E., Jaulhac, B., Garcia-Bonnet, N., Hunfeld, K.-P., Féménia, F., Huet, D., Goulvestre, C., Vaillant, V., Deffontaines, G., and Abadia-Benoist, G.
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SEROPREVALENCE , *TICK-borne diseases , *PATHOGENIC microorganisms , *CASTOR bean tick , *TICK infestations , *FORESTERS , *WORKING class , *HEALTH , *INFECTIOUS disease transmission - Abstract
In order to assess the level of occupational exposure to the main pathogens transmitted by the Ixodes ricinus tick, a seroprevalence study was performed on serum samples collected in 2003 from 2975 forestry workers of northeastern France. The global seroprevalence estimated for the seven pathogens studied was 14.1% (419/2975) for Borrelia burgdorferi sl, 5.7% (164/2908) for Francisella tularensis , 2.3% (68/2941) for tick-borne encephalitis virus, 1.7% (50/2908) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and 1.7% (48/2908) for Bartonella henselae . The seroprevalences of Babesia divergens and Babesia microti studied in a subgroup of participants seropositive for at least one of these latter pathogens were 0.1% (1/810) and 2.5% (20/810), respectively. Borrelia burgdorferi sl seroprevalence was significantly higher in Alsace and Lorraine and F. tularensis seroprevalence was significantly higher in Champagne-Ardenne and Franche-Comté. The results of this survey also suggest low rates of transmission of Bartonella henselae and F. tularensis by ticks and a different west/east distribution of Babesia species in France. The frequency and potential severity of these diseases justify continued promotion of methods of prevention of I. ricinus bites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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