Occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ricinus in The Netherlands
Nohlmans, M.K.; de Boer, R.; van den Bogaard, A.E.; Blaauw, A.A.; van Boven, C.P.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 134(27): 1300-1303
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 2374615 Document Number: 358100
"In a 1989 surveillance to study the infection rate of Ixodes ricinus ticks with Borrelia burgdorferi, a total of 1838 nymphal and adult Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from 20 locations in the Netherlands.By means of a culture method using modified Barbour-Kelly-Stoenner medium nymphs were examined in pools of 4 and adults were examined individually.With 63 out of 75 isolates propagation and serological identification were possible. All of these 63 isolates were identified as Borrelia burgdorferi by means of an indirect immunofluorescence assay.In nymphs the minimal infection rate was 2.4%. The rate of infection for adults was shown to be 14.3%. These results are in agreement with the percentages found by other investigators in West Europe.In all locations examined Ixodes ricinus were found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, although the infection rate varied.The results indicate that the infection is widespread among ticks in the Netherlands and the potential risk of acquiring Lyme borreliosis after a tick bite is serious."In the previous paper the authors review the ticks, their ecology, Lyme disese and other ixodid-borne infections (de Boer et al., pp. 1295-1299; 35 ref.).D.W. FitzSimons In a 1989 survey to study the infection rate of I. ricinus with B. burgdorferi in The Netherlands, a total of 1838 nymphs and adults were collected from 20 locations nationwide. Using modified Barbour-Kelly-Stoenner medium, nymphs were examined in pools of 4 and adults were examined individually. In 63 of 75 isolates, propagation and serological identification were possible. All 63 were identified by indirect immunofluorescence assay as B. burgdorferi. In nymphs the minimal infection rate was 2.4%, and the rate of infection for adults was 14.3. These results are in agreement with the percentages found by others in Western Europe. Infected I. ricinus were found in all the locations sampled, although the infection rate varied. The results indicate that the potential risk of acquiring Lyme borreliosis after a tick bite is high in The Netherlands.