Presently known tick-borne diseases in Germany include Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE-virus, western subtype), Q-fever, babesiosis and presumably ehrlichiosis. Blood samples of 4,368 forestry workers in the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg (B-W), southwestern Germany, were tested for the presence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, TBE-virus and Ehrlichia spp. (genogroup E. phagocytophila). Furthermore 12,327 ticks (Ixodes ricinus) collected in various areas of B-W were analysed by PCR and genotyping for the prevalence of pathogen RNA and DNA. The human seroprevalence rates of antibodies to B. burgdorferi sensu lato ranged from 18% to 52%, for TBE-virus from 0% to 43% and for Ehrlichia spp. from 5% to 16% in various counties of the State. The foci of B. burgdorferi and TBE-virus as indicated by antibody prevalence in humans are only partly overlapping with each other. The highest rates of TBE-virus antibodies are in concordance with available clinical data. However antibody prevalence up to 27% in areas with no reports of clinical cases was found, suggesting that TBE occurs throughout the State of B-W. The prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. antibodies suggests that ehrlichiosis plays a role as a tick-borne disease in Germany, but as long as no clinical data are available, this will remain unclear. Investigations of ticks for TBE-virus (n = 9,189) by nested PCR showed prevalence rates from 0% to 2.3% and for Ehrlichia spp. (n = 1,963) from 2.6% to 3.1%. Examination of ticks (n = 3,138) for the presence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato DNA was performed by PCR and revealed prevalence rates from 13.9% up to 24%. Furthermore 1,106 samples positive for B. burgdorferi sensu lato were used for genotyping. B. afzelii DNA was found in 407 ticks (36.8%), followed by B. garinii (21.9%), B. valaisiana (13.7%), and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (9.9%). Double infection was found in 6.4% and triple infection in 0.8% of the ticks. 10.5% of the positive samples could not be classified. Prevention of tick-borne diseases has to focus on behavioural intervention to reduce individual tick exposure by proper behaviour in the environment, as a large-scale control of the tick population seems impossible and thus reduction of Lyme borreliosis and TBE through tick control is unlikely. Vaccination against TBE-virus should not only be recommended for high endemic areas but also for persons with a high individual risk.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Studies of Coxiella burnetii infections in dairy herds with special regard to infections in men].

Investigations of 1167 dairy cows out of 105 herds with fertility disorders on secretion of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) by the genitals as well as serological studies of these animals using ELISA demonstrated that C. burnetii infections are significantly associated with abortions but not with repeated inseminations without success or vaginal excretions. The demonstration of an increased risk of infections for persons caring for those dairy herds could be shown by a total of 253 serological studies. A comparison of these studies of farmers caring for dairy herds suffering from abortions a seroprevalence of > or = 20% showed that these persons revealed significantly more frequent antibodies against C. burnetii than farmers of the group compared with. Further studies showed that in herds suffering from abortions a seroprevalence of > or = 20% means an additional risk of infections of farmers. Vice versa abortions of the cows in herds with a seroprevalence of > or = 20% imply an additional infectious risk.

Abortion, Veterinary↗