Seroepidemiology of emerging tickborne infectious diseases in a Northern California community.
A seroprevalence and risk factor study of emerging tickborne infectious diseases (Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis) was conducted among 230 residents of a semirural community in Sonoma County, California. Over 50% of residents reported finding a tick on themselves in the preceding 12 months. Samples from 51(23%) residents were seroreactive to antigens from one or more tickborne disease agents: 1.4% to Borrelia burgdorferi, 0.4% to Ehrlichia equi, 4.6% to Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and 17.8% to the Babesia-like piroplasm WA1. Only 14 (27%) of these seroreactive residents reported one or more symptoms compatible with these diseases. Seroreactivity was significantly associated with younger age (<16 years), longer residence in the community (11-20 years), and having had a physician's diagnosis of Lyme disease. In northern California, the risk of infection with these emerging tickborne diseases, particularly in children, may be greater than previously recognized.
Fritz
C L
CL
Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-2087, USA.
Kjemtrup
A M
AM
Conrad
P A
PA
Flores
G R
GR
Campbell
G L
GL
Schriefer
M E
ME
Gallo
D
D
Vugia
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001403:Babesia / Q000276:immunology; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D013987:Ticks
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan