Seroprevalence of Central European tick-borne encephalitis in the Lorraine region
Schuhmacher, H.; Hoen, B.; Baty, V.; Henny, J.; Le Faou, A.; Canton, P.
Presse Medicale 28(5): 221-224
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 10076595 Document Number: 507260
A seroepidemiological survey was conducted in the Lorraine region of France during 1996, to determine the seroprevalence of Central European tickborne encephalitis. 1777 persons attending preventive medicine clinics in Lorraine (Meurthe & Moselle, Moselle, Vosges, Meuse) were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire on factors related to tick bite exposure, and underwent tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV) serological tests. 50% of the subjects lived in rural areas, 91% had occasional or regular contact with the forest environment and 21% had experienced tick bites. TBEV serology (IgG) was positive in 19 subjects (1.6%; 95%CI: 0.9%-2.3%); 9 sera were positive on Western blot. No IgM positive sera were found. Seroprevalence was higher in subjects with a past history of tick bites compared with others (2.9% vs. 1.3%; P=0.074). It is concluded that the low seroprevalence of TBEV indicates that tickborne encephalitis is not widespread in the general population of Lorraine.