Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens
Azagi, Tal; Harms, Margriet; Swart, Arno; Fonville, Manoj; Hoornstra, Dieuwertje; Mughini-Gras, Lapo; Hovius, Joppe W; Sprong, Hein; van den Wijngaard, Cees
(2022) Parasites & Vectors, volume 15, issue 1, pp. 1 - 6
(Article)
Abstract
Background: The impact of infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) other than Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) on public health in Europe remains unclear. Our goal is to evaluate whether the presence of these TBPs in ticks can be associated with self-reported health complaints. Methods: We enrolled individuals
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who were bitten by I. ricinus between 2012 and 2015 and collected their relevant demographic and clinical information using a self-administered online questionnaire. A total of 4163 I. ricinus ticks sent by the participants were subject to molecular analyses for detection of specific TBPs. Associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks and self-reported complaints and symptoms were evaluated by means of a stepwise approach using a generalized linear model (GLM). Results: Of 17 self-reported complaints and symptoms significant in the univariate analyses, 3 had a highly significant association (P < 0.01) with at least one TBP in the multivariate analysis. Self-reported Lyme borreliosis was significantly associated (P < 0.001) with B. burgdorferi (s.l.) infection. Facial paralysis was associated (P < 0.01) with infection with B. miyamotoi, N. mikurensis and R. helvetica. Finally, a significant association (P < 0.001) was found between nocturnal sweating and A. phagocytophilum. Conclusions: We found associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks feeding on humans and self-reported symptoms. Due to the subjective nature of such reports and the fact that infection was determined in the ticks and not in the patient samples, further prospective studies utilizing diagnostic modalities should be performed before any clinical outcome can be causally linked to infection with TBPs. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
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Keywords: Animals, Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne, Humans, Ixodes, Lyme Disease/epidemiology, Prospective Studies, Self Report, Ixodes ricinus, Tick-borne diseases, Infectious Diseases, Parasitology
ISSN: 1756-3305
Publisher: BioMed Central
Note: Funding Information: This study is funded by The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, project number 52200-30-07), which has a peer-reviewed the grant application, and by by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sports. JWH and HS are supported by the NorthTick, European Union, European Regional Development Fund, in the North Sea Region Programme. None of the funding organizations had or will have any role in the design or the data analysis and interpretation of the study. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).
(Peer reviewed)