THE FREQUENCY OF SEROPOSITIVE INDIVIDUALS TO THE COMPLEX B. BURGDORFERI SENSU LATO AMONG FORESTRY WORKERS OF ZHYTOMYR, KHMELNYTSKYI AND VOLYN REGION

Abstract

The aim of the study was to learn the prevalence of Lyme borreliosis among forestry workers of Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi and Volyn region, using a two-stage diagnostic scheme: ELISA and immunoblot.

Patients and Methods. The present studies were conducted based on 397 forestry workers of Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi and Volyn region. The age of tested persons ranged from 20-65 years. The group of examined workers comprised 339 men and 98 women. A two-step algorithm consisting of ELISA and immunoblot tests was used in the study. During the first phase of the tests, presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi s.l IgM/IgG antibodies were marked using ELISA method, and positive and uncertain results were confirmed by immunoblot (EUROLINE Borrelia RN-AT). The persons tested were also questioned about Lyme-borreliosis, using international questionnaire.

Results. In 190 out 397 the examined forestry workers (47.9 %) from Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi and Volyn region, presence of specific antibodies: at least one IgM and / or IgG class to B. burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii and B. garinii) were detected by ELISA test. The application of the immunoblot method (EUROLINE Borrelia RN-AT) allowed to detect specific antibodies: at least one IgM and / or IgG class to B. burgdorferi sensu lato in 171 (90.0 %) of respondents, which had positive results during the first phase of the tests (ELISA).

Conclusions. The prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in forestry workers of Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi and Volyn region is 47.9 % during the first phase of the tests (ELISA) and 49.3 % during immunoblot (EUROLINE Borrelia RN-AT) laboratory diagnostic tests for Lyme disease must be performed in accordance with the current standards, positive and uncertain results must be confirmed by immunoblot test. Such percentage of infection by the B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex of surveyed forestry workers in Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi and Volyn region makes it possible to consider forestry workers as a high-risk group in relation to the Lyme disease and to achieve official recognition of Lyme disease as an occupational disease in Ukraine. A low percentage (3.3 %) of appeals for medical help of forest workers in the tested regions of Ukraine is in need of developed and implemented educational, prevention and efficient monitoring standards.