Possibility of Lyme Disease as an Occupational Disease — Seroepidemiological Study of Regional Residents and Forestry Workers

Abstract

We conducted a study to investigate the state of human infection by the Lyme disease pathogen by determining the prevalence of positivity for serum antibody to Borrelia burgdorferiamong regional residents and forestry workers in Nagano Prefecture. Assay of the antibody titer was performed by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFA) using Borrelia burgdorferistrain B-31 as the antigen. The study was based on the results of an earlier investigation to test our prediction of high infection rates for the adult ticks of I. persulcatusand I. ovatusin Nagano Prefecture. The study results showed infection to regional residents and forestry workers by the Lyme disease pathogen and a significantly higher positive rate in forestry workers than in regional residents. These findings indicate the need to consider this disorder as an occupational disease of forestry workers. Asia Pac J Public Health1994;7(4):214-17.

Keywords

Borrelia burgdorferi forestry worker high-risk group Lyme disease Nagano Prefecture occupational disease regional residents se-roepidemiology.

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