Lyme Borreliosis Infection in Europe

Autor: I. Santino, R. Sessa, M. Del Piano
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: European Journal of Inflammation, Vol 4 (2006)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1721-727X
1721727X
DOI: 10.1177/1721727X0600400201
Popis: Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States and Europe. It is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi species complex which are transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes . This paper presents a review of the studies published about Lyme borreliosis in Europe and in Italy. Seroepidemiologic studies have been conducted in various European countries concerning patients, groups at risk and general population. The distribution of LB in Europe is very variable and the risk is associated with occupational and recreational activities in forested areas and with residence in rural area. Taking the limitations of seroprevalence methods into account, it is evident that the prevalence of Lyme borreliosis varies considerably in different European countries, with an overall increasing prevalence from west to east in central-eastern Europe, a gradient of decreasing incidence in Spain and Greece and from north to south in Italy.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals