Research Article

TICK BITE CASES AMONG HAZELNUT FARM WORKERS IN GIRESUN

Volume: 39 Number: 2 May 16, 2017
EN TR

TICK BITE CASES AMONG HAZELNUT FARM WORKERS IN GIRESUN

Abstract

Objective: Ticks are arthropod vectors of many diseases. The prevalence of Lyme disease transmitted by Ixodes is not known in Turkey. The disease is caused by Borrelia species and can also be seen in domestic animals. The aim of this study is to identify the ticks, which are  collected from the agricultural workers who admitted to hospitals during the hazelnut harvest season between August and September 2015, at species and genus level and investigate whether these ticks vector of Borrelia spp.

Method: In this study, 152 ticks collected from 134 patients were investigated. Of all samples including larvae and nymphs, 95.24% were collected in September. All patients who admitted with complaints of tick bites were agricultural workers collecting nuts in the gardens at sea level. The ticks were identified at species and genus level with stereomicroskop, hemolymph fluid examined directly by dark-field microscope and cultured in the Borellia Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK-H) medium.

Results: Of all the ticks, 126 (82.9%) were adults, 13 (8.55%) were nymphs and 13 (8.55%) were larvae. Stereoscopic examination of the ticks revealed that 125 (82.2%) of the adults were Ixodes ricinus and 1 (0.65%) was Rhipicephalus sanguineus. All of the 13 nymphs (8.55%) and 13 larvae (8.55%) were identified as Ixodes spp.. All forms of development cycle were detected in the samples and the forms were inconsistent with the expected development cycle. Borrelia spp., the agent of Lyme disease, was investigated in the 146 ticks defined as I. ricinus and Ixodes spp. Borrelia spp were detected by dark field microscope in 3 (2.05%) of the 146 Ixodes and Borrelia spp. were identified in 5 (3.4%) of the cultures.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that Lyme disease can be seen in our region and the most probable vector is Ixodes ricinus.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Erdal Polat

Işıl Deniz Oguz

Büşra Kır

Döndü Mutlu

Sefer Babat

Publication Date

May 16, 2017

Submission Date

September 7, 2016

Acceptance Date

April 4, 2017

Published in Issue

Year 2017 Volume: 39 Number: 2

AMA
1.Uzunoglu E, Polat E, Oguz ID, et al. TICK BITE CASES AMONG HAZELNUT FARM WORKERS IN GIRESUN. CMJ. 2017;39(2):473-478. doi:10.7197/223.v39i29491.316367

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