title: [Monoinfections caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia burgdorferi / Anaplasma phagocytophilum co-infections in forestry workers and farmers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of co-infections induced by tick-borne pathogens in humans is an important epidemiological phenomenon. This issue has attracted growing attention of doctors and people working under conditions of an increased risk of being exposed to tick bites.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research group consisted of 93 individuals with current anti-immunoglobulin M/G (IgM/ IgG) Borrelia burgdorferi or IgG anti-Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The respondents were identified during the screening survey in a group of farmers and foresters occupationally exposed to tick bites. The aim of the work was to analyse the frequency of antibodies to specific antigens of B. burgdorferi and the levels of cytokines in forestry workers and farmers with B. burgdorferi monoinfections and B. burgdorferi / A. phagocytophilum co-infections. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi2, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a stronger generation of IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi antigens in patients with B. burgdorferi / A. phagocytophilum co-infections, such as variable major protein-like sequence expressed (VlsE) (p < 0.05), p19 (p < 0.02), p17 (p < 0.05) and complement regulator-acquiring surface protein 3 (CRASP3) (p < 0.02) compared to persons with B. burgdorferi monoinfections. The discrepancies in the synthesis of cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) have not been found in persons with B. burgdorferi monoinfections and B. burgdorferi / A. phagocytophilum co-infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immune response directed against B. burgdorferi is stronger in patients co-infected with B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum than in those with monoinfection.
authors.affiliation: Państwowa Szkoła Wyższa im. Papieża Jana Pawła II / Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education, Biała Podlaska, Poland (Katedra Zdrowia / Departament of Health). rodak.malgorzata@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokarska-Rodak
authors.affiliation: Państwowa Szkoła Wyższa im. Papieża Jana Pawła II / Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education, Biała Podlaska, Poland (Katedra Zdrowia / Departament of Health). anna.panczuk@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pańczuk
authors.affiliation: Państwowa Szkoła Wyższa im. Papieża Jana Pawła II / Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education, Biała Podlaska, Poland (Katedra Zdrowia / Departament of Health). koziolm@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozioł-Montewka
authors.affiliation: Państwowa Szkoła Wyższa im. Papieża Jana Pawła II / Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education, Biała Podlaska, Poland (Centrum Badań nad Innowacjami / Innovation Research Centre). d.plewik@pswbp.pl.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plewik
authors.affiliation: Państwowa Szkoła Wyższa im. Papieża Jana Pawła II / Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education, Biała Podlaska, Poland (Centrum Badań nad Innowacjami / Innovation Research Centre). a.szepeluk@pswbp.pl.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szepeluk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000276:immunology*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D016468:Forestry; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012698:Serologic Tests; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Borrelia burgdorferi; co-infection; cytokines; farmers; forestry workers