Lyme borreliosis: clinical and epidemiological features of its course in the territory of large industrial center of Western Urals

Abstract

Objective. Since the territory of the Western Urals is widely known for its high morbidity and mortality rates associated with tick-borne infections, including ixodic tick-borne borreliosis, the study was aimed at estimation of the role of specific prevention in the prevalence of ITB. Materials and methods. A continuous retrospective clinical and laboratory analysis of 1214 adult patients admitted to Perm Regional Clinical Infectious Disease Hospital with lyme - borreliosis in 2012-2019 was carried out. Results. The disease is registered more often in persons over 50 years old, infection mainly occurs while visiting forests and park zones that requires the use of means of protection to reduce the number of the carriers of infection. Every third patient has mixed infection, where pathogens circulating in the ticks of the given territory of the Western Urals are combined. The increase in the number of non-erythemic forms in the recent years is probably associated with the development of immunodeficiency in the population of the industrial center, as well as with the use of more sensitive and informative methods of laboratory diagnostics. Conclusions. Specific prophylaxis is highly effective, helping to prevent infection in more than 90% of cases.