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Transmission risk of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from Ixodes ricinus ticks to humans in southwest Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1998

M. MAIWALD ,
R. OEHME ,
O. MARCH ,
T. N. PETNEY ,
P. KIMMIG ,
K. NASER ,
H. A. ZAPPE ,
D. HASSLER  and
M. VON KNEBEL DOEBERITZ
M. MAIWALD
Affiliation:
Hygiene-Institut der Universität, Abt. Hygiene und Med. Mikrobiologie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany Present affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, CA, USA. Mailing address: VA Palo Alto Health Care System 154T, Building 101, Room B4-185, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. Phone: +1 650 493 5000, ext 6-3193 or 6-3163. Fax: +1 650 852 3291. E-mail: un69mm@genius.embnet.dkfz-heidelberg.de
R. OEHME
Affiliation:
Landesgesundheitsamt Baden-Württemberg, Wiederholdstrasse 15, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
O. MARCH
Affiliation:
Hygiene-Institut der Universität, Abt. Hygiene und Med. Mikrobiologie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
T. N. PETNEY
Affiliation:
Hygiene-Institut der Universität, Abt. Parasitologie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
P. KIMMIG
Affiliation:
Landesgesundheitsamt Baden-Württemberg, Wiederholdstrasse 15, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
K. NASER
Affiliation:
Landesgesundheitsamt Baden-Württemberg, Wiederholdstrasse 15, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
H. A. ZAPPE
Affiliation:
Medizinische Klinik der Universität, Sektion Allgemeinmedizin, Bergheimer Strasse 147, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
D. HASSLER
Affiliation:
Allgemeinarztpraxis, Untere Hofstatt 3, 76703 Kraichtal, Germany
M. VON KNEBEL DOEBERITZ
Affiliation:
Chirurgische Klinik der Universität, Sektion Molekulare Diagnostik und Therapie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Abstract

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The risk of Borrelia burgdorferi infection and the value of antibiotic prophylaxis after tick bite are controversial. In this study, performed in two areas of southwestern Germany, ticks were collected from 730 patients and examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B. burgdorferi. To assess whether transmission of B. burgdorferi occurred, the patients were clinically and serologically examined after tick removal and during follow-up examinations. Data from all tick bites gave a total transmission rate of 2·6% (19 patients). Eighty-four ticks (11·3%) were PCR positive. Transmission occurred to 16 (26·7%) of 60 patients who were initially seronegative and could be followed up after the bite of an infected tick. These results indicate that the transmission rate from infected ticks in Europe is higher than previously assumed. Examination of ticks and antibiotic prophylaxis in the case of positivity appears to be indicated.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 121 , Issue 1 , August 1998 , pp. 103 - 108
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press