[Seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in workers from Cordoba, Colombia].

OBJECTIVE

Establishing the seroprevalence of Lyme disease in workers from Cordoba.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Representative serum samples (152) were taken from the cities of Montería, Cereté, Lorica and Cotorra in the Córdoba department in Colombia. Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were detected by ELISA and confirmed by western blot anti-Borrelia blot assay. RPR (rapid plasma regain) test for Treponema pallidum (syphilis) and ELISA for leptospirosis IgM were carried out to discard cross-reactivity.

RESULTS

A total of 152 serum samples were tested; 30 (20 %) were positive by ELISA. The 30 positive sera were RPR negative. Seven sera were confirmed by western blot; seroprevalence was 4.6 %. Reactivity against p41, p58, p75, OspA, p30, OspC, p17, VLsE and p83/100 were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed antigenic evidence of Borrelia in the rural area of Cordoba. Identifying clinical, ecological and serological cases, linked to searching for Borrelia burgdorferi in infected tick vectors must be carried out in rural parts of Colombia.