Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 6; p. 2933
• Main Authors: Acharya, Dilaram, Park, Ji-Hyuk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.03.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Arachnids; Confidence intervals; Disease prevention; Dogs; Forestry; Hygiene; Immunofluorescence; Immunoglobulins; Infections; Lyme disease; Lyme Disease - epidemiology; Meals; National parks; Occupational Diseases; Offices; Outdoor activities; Parks & recreation areas; Parks, Recreational; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Statistical analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vector-borne diseases; Woodlands; Workers; Republic of Korea; South Korea; Europe; seroprevalence; Lyme disease; risk factors; forestry workers
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062933

Limited data are available on the current status of Lyme disease in South Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Lyme disease infection among forestry workers in National Park Offices in South Korea. We enrolled National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) who had worked for ≥1 year. Participants completed questionnaires that addressed various subjects including work types and work hygiene-related factors. Collected serum samples were tested using immunofluorescence assay to detect anti- antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors of seroprevalence. Of 1,410 NPOFWs, 655 (46.5%) participated in this study, and an overall seroprevalence of Lyme disease antibodies was 8.1%. Analysis showed that always eating meals in woodland (odds ratio (OR), 5.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.08-12.52) and raising dogs outside homes (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.57-6.75) were significantly associated with Lyme disease infection. This seroprevalence study indicates that Lyme disease is an important disease among NPOFWs in South Korea. These identified modifiable risk factors should be considered while designing preventive strategies for reducing Lyme disease infection among NPOFWs.