Segurança médica e saúde global
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Seroprevalence of Tick-borne Diseases in the Population of the European North of Russia

Tokarevich N, Stoyanova N, Gnativ B, Kazakovtsev S, Blinova O and Revich B

Objective: The uptrend in the incidence of Tick-borne Diseases (TBD) is a new challenge for public health in many countries, especially those in the Arctic zone. The objective of our study was to assess the TBD seroprevalence in the population of Komi Republic (KR) located in the northeast of European Russia.

Materials and methods: Blood serum was sampled from 343 (183 men, 160 women) healthy donors aged 20-70 and tested with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

Results: IgG antibodies to TBD pathogens were detected in 66 (19.2%) samples: 47 (13.7%) samples contained antibodies to TBE virus, 18 (5.3%) those to Borrelia, and 5 (1.5%) those to Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 4 samples contained antibodies to TBE mixed with those to another TBD. The results were compared with those of an earlier serological survey and showed a significant increase in the seroprevalence IgG antibodies to TBE (13.7 ± 1.9% in 2013, and 3.5 ± 0.75% in 2001, respectively). In the sera samples of occupationally-risk professionals the IgG antibodies to TBD were more common than in the rest of donors (36.2 ± 7.0% and 16.6 ± 2.2%; p<0.05), in men more common than in women (25.1 ± 3.2% and 12.5 ± 2.6%; p<0.01), and young men (20-34 years) were the most affected.

Discussion: The situation in KR justifies the need for professional advancement of medical practitioners in TBD treatment, and revision of regional plans for anti-epidemic measures. Attention should be given to the effectiveness of health education, particularly among indigenous people who inhabit territory where tick bites are recorded.

Conclusion: Significant growth of TBE seroprevalence evidences the increased risk of acquiring TBE by KR population, including the inhabitants of settlements where this infection was never reported previously.