Seroprevalence of Lyme disease and associated risk factors in rural population of Beijing.

A seroepidemiological survey of 801 local residents from 28 villages was conducted to assess the seroprevalence of Lyme disease and to identify the risk factors of becoming seropositive for Lyme disease in the northern suburb of Beijing. Forty-one serum samples were positive for IgG against B burgdorferi and the seroprevalence was 5.1% (41/801), indicating that Lyme disease is endemic in the rural population. In the multivariable analysis, sowing and harvesting in summer (OR, 2.377, 95% CI, 1.233-4.583), weed in the yard (OR, 1.914, 95% CI, 1.003-3.655) were positively associated with Lyme disease, while wearing protective clothes (OR, 0.173, 95% CI, 0.041-0.732) was negatively associated with Lyme disease. People living in the area are easily infected just near the house or in the cropland. They were barely diagnosed and cured. Without clear tick knowledge, the people are at high risk of exposure to tick bite and Lyme disease.