Tick-borne infections and co-infections in patients with non-specific symptoms in Poland

• AIM: The aim of the study was the evaluation of the frequency of infections and co-infections among patients hospitalized because of non-specific symptoms after a tick bite.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole blood, serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 118 patients hospitalised for non-specific symptoms up to 8 weeks after tick bite from 2010 to 2013 were examined for tick-borne infections. ELISA, Western blot and/or molecular biology (PCR; fla gene; 16S rRNA; sequencing) and thin blood smears (MDD) were used. Control group included 50 healthy blood donors. All controls were tested with PCR and serology according to the same procedure as in patients.RESULTS: Out of 118 patients 85 (72%) experienced headaches, 15 (13%) vertigo, 32 (27%) nausea, 17 (14%) vomiting, 37 (31%) muscle pain, 73 (62%) fever and 26 (22%) meningeal signs. 47.5% were infected with at least one tick-borne pathogen. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection was confirmed with ELISA, Western blot in serum and/or (PCR (fla gene) in whole blood in 29.7% cases. In blood of 11.9% patients Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA (16S rRNA gene) was detected; in 0.9% patients 1/118 Babesia spp. DNA (18S rRNA gene) was also detected. Co-infections were observed in 5.1% of patients with non-specific symptoms. B. burgdorferi s.l. - A. phagocytophilum co-infection (5/118; 4.2%) was most common. In 1/118 (0.8%) A. phagocytophilum - Babesia spp. co-infection was detected. All controls were negative for examined pathogens.CONCLUSIONS: Non-specific symptoms after tick bite may be caused by uncommon pathogens or co-infection, therefore it should be considered in differential diagnosis after tick bite.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Babesia spp.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

Co-infection

Non-specific symptoms

Zoonotisk ekologi

Zoonotic Ecology

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