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The Prevalence and Incidence of Clinical and Asymptomatic Lyme Borreliosis in a Population at Risk

Fahrer, Heinz ; van der Linden, Sjef M. ; Sauvain, Marie-Josephe ; Gern, Lise ; Zhioua, Elyes ; Aeschlimann, Andre

In: Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1991, vol. 163, no. 2, p. 305-310

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    Title
    • The Prevalence and Incidence of Clinical and Asymptomatic Lyme Borreliosis in a Population at Risk
    Author
    • Fahrer, Heinz. Department of Rheumatology, University of Berne, and Department of Zoology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, Maastricht, Netherlands
    • van der Linden, Sjef M.. Department of Rheumatology, University of Berne, and Department of Zoology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, Maastricht, Netherlands
    • Sauvain, Marie-Josephe. Department of Rheumatology, University of Berne, and Department of Zoology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, Maastricht, Netherlands
    • Gern, Lise. Department of Rheumatology, University of Berne, and Department of Zoology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, Maastricht, Netherlands
    • Zhioua, Elyes. Department of Rheumatology, University of Berne, and Department of Zoology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, Maastricht, Netherlands
    • Aeschlimann, Andre. Department of Rheumatology, University of Berne, and Department of Zoology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, Maastricht, Netherlands
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1991, vol. 163, no. 2, p. 305-310. The University Chicago Press
    Other Version
    Classification
    • Health
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:292850
    Summary
    A past history of clinical Lyme borreliosis and the 6-month incidence of clinical and asymptomatic Lyme borreliosis was studied prospectively in a high-risk population. In the spring, blood samples were drawn from 950 Swiss orienteers, who also answered a questionnaire. IgG anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were detected by ELISA. Positive IgG antibodies were seen in 248 (26.1%), in contrast to 3.9%-6.0% in two groups of controls (n = 101). Of the orienteers, 1.9%-3.1% had a past history of definite or probable clinical Lyme borreliosis. Six months later a second blood sample was obtained from 755 participants, 558 (73.9%) of whom were seronegative initially; 45 (8.1%) had sero converted from negative to positive. Only 1 (2.2%) developed clinical Lyme borreliosis, Among all participants, the 6-month incidence of clinical Lyme borreliosis was 0.8% (6/755) but was much higher (8.1%) for asymptomatic seroconversion (45/558). In conclusion, positive Lyme serology was common in Swiss orienteers, but clinical disease occurred infrequently