Seroprevalence and risk factors of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Rickettsia species infection in humans in Mongolia, 2016-2020

Dashdavaa Ganbold; Bayarsaikhan Uudus; Naranbat Nyamdavaa; Yeruult Chultemsuren; Amarbayasgalan Zagd; Mungunzaya Tangad; Agarzandan Bayarmaa; Rolomjav Lkunrev; Uyanga Baasandagva; Tsogbadrakh Nyamdorj; Myadagsuren Narankhajid

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0289274

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Rickettsia species infection in humans in Mongolia, 2016-2020

PLoS One. 2023 Aug 8;18(8):e0289274. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289274. eCollection 2023.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
² Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Art Science, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
³ Gyals Medical Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
⁴ National Centre for Zoonotic Diseases, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Abstract

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Rickettsia spp. are worldwide causes of tick-borne infections. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and determine risk factors among Mongolians from 2016 to 2020. Blood samples were obtained from voluntary participants with a history of suspected tick bite who visited our hospital, and IgG antibodies against Rickettsia and Borrelia were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IgG antibody seropositivity rate against Rickettsia was 21.8% (1032/4724), while 3.4% (162/4724) of participants tested positive for serum IgG antibodies against Borrelia by ELISA.Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for tick-borne rickettsiosis (TBR) and tick-borne borreliosis (TBB) using IgG serum sample. Age, occupation, and residence were significantly associated with these diseases; however, sex did not show any significant association. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among herders (40.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.5-45.8; odds ratio [OR] 0.61; P < 0.001) and students (32.8%, 95% CI: 30.2-35.4; OR 0.75; P < 0.001) than among individuals with other occupations. The 25-29 age group had a slightly higher seroprevalence (35.1%, 95% CI: 28.1-42.6; OR 0.61; P < 0.006) than those in other age groups. Province was a stronger predictor of TBR than occupation and age group. In univariate subgroup analysis by age group, occupation, and residence were significantly associated with TBR seroprevalence, whereas age and province were associated with TBB seroprevalence. Thus, risk factors for TBD include residence, occupation, and age group. This study was conducted using samples from all Mongolian provinces and the capital city, and the risk factors and prevalence of Rickettsia and Borreliaare highlighted.

Copyright: © 2023 Ganbold et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Borrelia Infections*
Borrelia burgdorferi*
Borrelia*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Lyme Disease* / epidemiology
Mongolia / epidemiology
Rickettsia Infections* / epidemiology
Rickettsia Infections* / microbiology
Rickettsia*
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Tick-Borne Diseases* / epidemiology
Ticks*

Substances

Immunoglobulin G

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a research grant from the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences to MN. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.