Journal article
Tick magnets: The occupational risk of tick-borne disease exposure in forestry workers in New York
Health science reports, Vol.5(2), pp.e509-n/a
03/2022
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.509
PMCID: PMC8864501
PMID: 35229053
Abstract
Background Outdoor workers, such as forestry workers, are at an increased risk for contracting tick-borne diseases due to their prolonged time spent in tick habitats. Although well studied in Europe, no studies have been conducted with forestry workers in the Northeastern United States since 1990s. Methods Full-time forestry workers and two comparison groups (volunteer firefighter/first responders and indoor/healthcare workers) within New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were recruited for this cross-sectional seroprevalence study. Blood draws were conducted to test for antibodies to Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. Surveys were administered to determine personal risk factors and protective behaviors. Results Between November 2020 and May 2021, 256 (105 forestry, 101 firefighter/first responder, and 50 indoor/healthcare) workers participated in this study. Forestry workers had a probability of testing positive nearly twice as high for any tick-borne disease (14%) compared to firefighter/first responders (8%) and to indoor workers (6%); however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = .140). Forestry workers were more likely to find embedded ticks on themselves (f = 33.26, P < .0001 vs both comparison groups) and to have been previously diagnosed with a tick-borne disease (P = .001 vs firefighter/first responders, P = .090 vs indoor/healthcare workers). Conclusions This pilot study suggests a higher proportion of tick-borne disease risk among forestry workers compared to firefighters/first responders and indoor/healthcare workers with lesser exposure. A larger study to confirm or refute this pilot data could help optimize mitigation/prevention strategies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Tick magnets: The occupational risk of tick-borne disease exposure in forestry workers in New York
- Creators
- Amanda Roome - Bassett Medical CenterSugam Gouli - Bassett Medical CenterRatdanai Yodsuwan - Bassett Medical CenterJennifer Victory - Bassett Medical CenterCasie Collins - Bassett Medical CenterPaul Jenkins - Bassett Medical CenterMelissa Scribani - Bassett Medical CenterNicole Krupa - Bassett Medical CenterDaniel Freilich - Bassett Medical CenterAnne Gadomski - Bassett Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Health science reports, Vol.5(2), pp.e509-n/a
- Publisher
- Wiley
- DOI
- 10.1002/hsr2.509
- PMID
- 35229053
- PMCID
- PMC8864501
- ISSN
- 2398-8835
- eISSN
- 2398-8835
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Friends of Bassett E Donnall Thomas Resident Research Program
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2022
- Academic Unit
- Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984691516302771
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