Investigation of vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi and Lyme seropositivity in sivas region [Sivas yöresinde Borrelia burgdorferi vektörlerinin ve Lyme seropozitifli?inin araştirilmasi]

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the presence of vector ticks for Borrelia burgdorferi and to determine the seropositivity of lyme disease in Sivas region of Middle Anatolia. A total of 10.303 ticks were collected and classified at genus level, however, none of them belonged to Ixodes genus, the vector of B.burgdorferi. For the seroepidemiological study, serum samples were collected from 270 subjects who inhabited in rural area and raised livestock, and from 135 subjects as the control group who inhabited in urban area and have no livestock story. The samples were screened for the presence of B.burgdorferi IgG antibodies with a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit (ImmunoWell Borrelia, Genbio, San Diego). As a result, one subject in the each group (0.4% and 0.7%, respectively) yielded positive result, however as these sera gave positive reaction in rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, these were evaluated as cross-reactivity (false positivity). These results indicated that lyme disease is not endemic in our region since neither Ixodes genus ticks nor seropositive subjects were detected.