title: Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens at various workplaces in forest exploitation environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the study was the evaluation of the infection of ticks with pathogenic microorganisms at various workplaces (timber acquisition, forest growing, forest cultivation, forest protection).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred sixty one Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from 4 workplaces were examined for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then, a comparative analysis of the relative density and infection of ticks at individual workplaces was done. In the statistical analysis, Chi2 test, and Pearson's test for correlation were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences in infection (15.9-50%) of ticks with B: burgdorferi between the examined workplaces were highly significant, with the highest percentage observed at forest growing. The percentages of infection of ticks with A. phagocytophilum at individual workplaces ranged from 1.1-3.7%, and differences were statistically insignificant. The percentages of infections of ticks with Babesia microti at individual workplaces fluctuated from 3.6-4.4% and differences were also insignificant. Co-infections of ticks with 2 or 3 pathogens were rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-infections with B. burgdorferi and B. microti showed a significant relationship with the workplaces, while those with B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum did not show such a dependence. No significant positive correlation was found between the relative density of ticks and the frequencies of infections with B. burgdorferi, A. phagocytophilum and B. microti.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Cisak
authors: Angelina
authors: A
authors: Wójcik-Fatla
authors: Violetta
authors: V
authors: Zając
authors: Jacek
authors: J
authors: Dutkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D041001:Babesia microti; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016468:Forestry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D065928:Forests; D006801:Humans; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011156:Population Density; D015995:Prevalence