[Risk of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi in an area endemic for Lyme disease]

The results of the study of the prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in three categories of subjects from the endemic region of Lyme disease in the northeast Croatia are reported. The study comprised 265 subjects: 97 living in the rural region, 51 forest rangers working in this region and 117 members of the Yugoslav People's Army who spent a certain period of time in this region. Positive titer of specific antibodies were found in 11.3% of local inhabitants, 25.5% forest rangers and 6% soldiers. Serologic testing was performed by the direct immunofluorescent method with aspiration and the titer in the dilution of 1:80 was considered significant. Some risk factors causing disease as well as the relationship between inapparent and clinically manifested cases of infection are pointed out.