Risk of Exposure and Prevention of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Among Foresters in Alsace (PREFORTIC)

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Lyme Borreliosis

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06492668

9309

Details and patient eligibility

About

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that feed on vertebrate hosts. Although wild and domestic animals are the primary source of tick blood meals, humans can be an accidental host. During a blood meal, a microorganism can be transmitted to the host who can develop a disease. All infectious diseases transmitted by ticks are referred to as tick-borne diseases (TBDs). They are the most prevalent vector-borne diseases in the Northern Hemisphere. Among these diseases, Lyme borreliosis is the most common.

In Europe, Lyme borreliosis does not cause high fevers (> 38°C). Therefore, when a patient presents with a high fever with the notion of exposure to ticks, another etiology must be suspected. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and the tick-borne encephalitis virus are classically described as causing febrile syndromes.

In France, ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasing, particularly those associated with the Ixodes ricinus tick. This tick is mainly present in forest ecosystems with a peak of activity in May. Foresters represent a population with biting ticks and tick-borne diseases, notably Lyme borreliosis.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Major forester (≥18 years old)
• Male or female gender
• ONF (National Forestry Office) staff
• Regularly exposed to ticks in Alsace (exclusively)
• Practicing regular forestry activities in a group
• Agreeing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Refusal to participate in the study