Prevalence of borreliosis among forestry workers in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship
Dybowska, D.; Kozielewicz, D.; Abdulgater, A.; Boreliozy, R.; Lasów, Wśród.Pracowników.; Kujawsko-Pomorskiego, Wództwa.
Przeglad Epidemiologiczny 61(1): 67-71
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-2100 PMID: 17702441 Document Number: 614030
A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and clinical manifestation of borreliosis. Evaluation of the frequency of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi in sera collected from forestry workers were also carried out. 113 forestry workers from Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship in Poland (56 from Szubin district, 29 from Runowo district and 28 from Lutowko district) were examined. Duration of work, frequency of exposure to ticks and presence of erythema migrans (EM) in the past and present manifestation of Lyme disease were analysed. Serological studies were performed in each case. The average duration of work was between one and 47 years. In 92 cases, exposure occurred more than once. 24 suffered from EM in the past but only 2 were treated with antibiotics. 14 of 113 patients suffered from Lyme arthritis. Serological markers of B. burgdorferi were found in 37 cases. Results show that although there is no correlation between the duration of work in forests and frequency of B. burgdorferi infection, the rate of infestation has become widespread in the region under study. It is suggested that forestry workers should be periodically examined for Lyme disease because of the high risk of infection.