title: Seroprevalence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany: an 8-year survey.
abstract: This study investigated the seroprevalence of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Berlin/Brandenburg, north-eastern Germany. During 1994-2001, 422 sera from patients with proven tick-exposure (specimens with antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi) were compared with 249 control sera. Using indirect fluorescent antibody testing, significantly more positive samples were detected among Borrelia antibody-positive specimens (4.5%, 95% CI 2.5-6.5%) than among controls (1.2%, 95% CI 0.5-1.9%; p < 0.05). While six (2.2%, 95% CI 1.3-3.1%) samples were positive among Borrelia antibody-positive sera between 1994 and 1997, 13 (8.7%, 95% CI 6.9-10.5%) were positive between 1998 and 2001 (p < 0.01), indicating an uneven annual seroprevalence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité-University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hopfenmüller
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fingerle
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eisenblätter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miksits
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ignatius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000276:immunology*; D000712:Anaplasmosis; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial