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Seropositivity of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Germany-an analysis across four German National Cohort (NAKO) study sites.
Sci. Rep. 13:21087 (2023)
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is caused by the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. from ticks to humans. Climate affects tick abundance, and climate change is projected to promote shifts in abundance in Europe, potentially increasing human exposure. We analyzed serum samples collected between the years 2014-2019 from German National Cohort (NAKO) participants at four study sites (Augsburg, Berlin, Hanover, Münster) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and line blot immunoassay as confirmatory test for positive and equivocal ELISA samples. We reported crude and weighted seropositivity proportions for local estimates. We used mixed model analysis to investigate associated factors, such as age, sex, migration background, or animal contacts. We determined the serostatus of 14,207 participants. The weighted seropositivity proportions were 3.4% (IgG) and 0.4% (IgM) in Augsburg, 4.1% (IgG) and 0.6% (IgM) in northern Berlin, 3.0% (IgG) and 0.9% (IgM) in Hanover, and 2.7% (IgG) and 0.6% (IgM) in Münster. We found higher odds for IgG seropositivity with advancing age (p < 0.001), among males compared to females (p < 0.001) and reduced odds among participants with migration background compared to those without (p = 0.001). We did not find evidence for an association between serostatus and depression, children within the household, or animal contact, respectively. We found low seropositivity proportions and indications of differences across the study locations, although between-group comparisons did not yield significant results. Comparisons to earlier research are subject to important limitations; however, our results indicate no major increases in seropositivity over time. Nevertheless, monitoring of seropositivity remains critical in light of potential climate-related Borrelia exposure.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
ISSN (print) / ISBN
2045-2322
e-ISSN
2045-2322
Journal
Scientific Reports
Quellenangaben
Volume: 13,
Issue: 1,
Article Number: 21087
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Publishing Place
London
Non-patent literature
Publications
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI2)
Grants
Life Science Stiftung (LSS)
Leibniz Association
Helmholtz Association
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Projekt DEAL
Leibniz Association
Helmholtz Association
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Projekt DEAL