Prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia parkeri and Borrelia turicatae in human settlements of the Cordillera Province, Bolivia

J Trop Med Hyg. 1994 Feb;97(1):13-7.

Abstract

A seroepidemiological study to determine the prevalence of human Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne relapsing fever was carried out in three communities (Camiri, Boyuibe and Gutierrez) of the Cordillera Province, Santa Cruz Department, south-eastern Bolivia. Anti-B. burgdorferi, anti-B. turicatae and anti-B. parkeri antibodies, tested by the indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA), were detected in 10.8, 16.1 and 8.2% of the serum samples tested, and confirmed by IFA-ABS in 1.3, 1.3 and 1.0%, respectively. This is the first report of the presence of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne relapsing fever in Bolivia. For Lyme borreliosis these findings represent a further datum to support its existence in South America.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Bolivia / epidemiology
  • Borrelia / immunology*
  • Borrelia Infections / epidemiology*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross Reactions
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Sex Factors
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial