[Prevalence of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti i Borrelia burgdorferi in adults in North-Eastern Poland].

The Aim: of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalance of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia Microti in healthy north-eastern Poland, adult population.

Material And Methods: The study was conducted in a group of 142 healthy adults (mean age 19-22), bitten by ticks within last 2 years. The control group consisted of 50 adults from central Poland (nonendemic area). The antibody levels for A. phagocytophilum (IgG/Ap-Ab) and B. microti (IgM/Bm-Ab) were evaluated in two series of samples from the same persons (interval 5-6 months) by immunoenzymatic tests (Borrelia Biomedica, Austria), immunofluorescence test (Human Granulotic Ehrlichiosis IFA IgG and Babesia microti IFA IgG from MRL Diagnostics).

Results: Positive results for A. phagocytophilum were defined as titres > or =1:256 and for B. microti > or =1:64 and B. burgdorferi > or = 11 BBU/ml. Positive results for IgG B. burgdorferi during the first collection were revealed in 16% (n=24/142) of individuals from endemic area and in 4% (n=2/50) of the control group, which was statistically relevant (p<0,05). IgG A. phagocytophilum antibodies were present in 3,5% (n=5/142) of individuals from the endemic area, but for IgG B. microti antibodies (IgG/Bm-Ab) no positive results were found. No IgG antibodies against A. phagocytophilum and B.microti, were found in individuals from non-endemic area. During the second collection, in individuals from the endemic area, the antibodies against B. burgdorferi were found in 9,8% (n=14/142), IgG A. phagocytophilum antibodies (IgG/Ap-Ab) in 4,9% (n=7/142) and against B. microti (IgG/ Bm-Ab) in 1,4% (n=2/142). The antibodies against B. Burgdorferi were found in 2% (n=1/150) of the control group during the second collection, and no IgG against A. phagocytophilum and B. microti were found.

Conclusion: [corrected] Evaluating the seroprevalance of the studied antibodies in both collections, a conclusion was drawn that there was no significant increase of antibodies levels directly after the highest exposition to tick bites. None of individuals showed 4-fold antibody level increase between the first and second collection. The seroconversion for IgG/Bm-Ab antibodies was present in 1,4% (n=2/142) of individuals, in those 2 cases a 2-fold antibodies level increase was observed. As far as IgG/Ap-Ab antibodies are concerned the seroconversion was observed in 2,1% (n-3/142), but only one case shown a 3-fold antibodies level increase. No seroconversion of B. burgdorferi antibodies were found in the second collection.