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Article

Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea

Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju 38066, Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 2933; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062933
Submission received: 11 February 2021 / Revised: 9 March 2021 / Accepted: 10 March 2021 / Published: 12 March 2021

Abstract

:
Limited data are available on the current status of Lyme disease in South Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Lyme disease infection among forestry workers in National Park Offices in South Korea. We enrolled National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) who had worked for ≥1 year. Participants completed questionnaires that addressed various subjects including work types and work hygiene-related factors. Collected serum samples were tested using immunofluorescence assay to detect anti-Borrelia antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors of seroprevalence. Of 1,410 NPOFWs, 655 (46.5%) participated in this study, and an overall seroprevalence of Lyme disease antibodies was 8.1%. Analysis showed that always eating meals in woodland (odds ratio (OR), 5.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.08–12.52) and raising dogs outside homes (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.57–6.75) were significantly associated with Lyme disease infection. This seroprevalence study indicates that Lyme disease is an important disease among NPOFWs in South Korea. These identified modifiable risk factors should be considered while designing preventive strategies for reducing Lyme disease infection among NPOFWs.

1. Introduction

Lyme disease is a zoonotic tick-borne disease that is caused by a wide variety of spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. In the Americas, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) are the main pathogen, while in Europe, B. afzelii and B. garinii are common [1]. Lyme disease is a multi-system illness that primarily affects the nervous system, skin, joints, and heart. Most people treated with antibiotics for Lyme disease do recover whereas only a small percentage have persisting symptoms [2]. Delayed treatment can result in sequelae and long-term antibiotic use, and results in excessive health care burdens in terms of cost and the use of health facilities [3].
The incidence of Lyme disease has been consistently reported to be increasing in different parts of the world including America, Europe, and Asia [4]. The risk of contracting the disease is largely dependent on the activities of individuals and exposure in areas inhabited by ticks, which include woodlands, rural areas, and forests [5,6,7,8]. Several studies reported that a wide range of personal and environmental preventive measures, such as wearing protective clothing, checking for ticks during outdoor activities, applying repellents prior to outdoor activities, taking a shower after visiting areas at risk, and the use of host-targeted acaricides, are protective factors for Lyme disease infection [5,7,9].
In South Korea, Lyme disease was designated as a National Notifiable Infectious Disease in 2010, and since then, reports of the disease have increased. During 2011–2019, an average of 15.8 cases of Lyme disease was reported annually, with 23 cases in 2019 [10]. A rise in cases of Lyme disease [10] and the identification of B. burgdorferi infection in animals [11,12] in South Korea suggest that Lyme disease will continue to be a public health problem. Employees assigned to work in forest, woodland, and suburban areas are more likely to be bitten by ticks, and thus, are at greater risk of Lyme disease [13,14]. Few human studies on Lyme disease have been published in South Korea [15,16], however, these studies did not investigate Lyme disease infection among forestry workers.
Investigations of the prevalence and risk factors for Lyme disease infection among risk groups aid the design and implementation of effective preventive strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and identify the risk factors associated with Lyme disease infection among forestry workers in national parks, who constitute a high-risk group in South Korea.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Ethics and Consent

This study was conducted after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board of Dongguk University Gyeongju Hospital (approval number: 16-286). Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants prior to enrollment. All personal identifiers were removed before data analysis, and privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity were fully maintained.

2.2. Study Setting and Population

The Korea National Park Service was established in 1987 to conserve natural resources through research and study. This organization is responsible for the management of national parks, which involves, for example, the installation and maintenance of park facilities, the publication of maps, and promotional activities [17]. In South Korea, the National Park Service manages 21 of the 22 national parks, except the Hallasan National Park in Jeju Island. National Park Offices are affiliated with the Korea National Park Service and are located near national parks to facilitate professional management. In view of the low incidence of Lyme disease in South Korea (0.02 cases per 100,000 population in 2015) [10], we restricted participants to those who had worked for ≥1 year as National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) and enrolled 655 of 1410 NPOFWs working in 29 main offices and 65 branch offices throughout the country.

2.3. Data Collection

In cooperation with the Korea National Park Service, we informed NPOFWs about the study and mailed questionnaires to them prior to visiting offices. The self-developed questionnaire consisted of four parts: (i) general characteristics of participants; (ii) type of work performed; (iii) work hygiene-related factors (including wearing personal protective equipment, risky behaviors during outdoor work, and protective behaviors during and after outdoor work); and (iv) other potential risk factors (such as performing additional jobs and raising animals). Our study team visited all 29 main offices during December 2016; the enrolled workers were asked to visit the nearest main office for appointments. Completed questionnaires were verified by the researchers to ensure the quality of the data obtained.

2.4. Serologic Testing

On interview days, a blood sample (10 mL) was collected from each participant. Serum samples were transferred to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test for Lyme disease. An in-house indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was performed to quantify immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody levels to B. burgdorferi [18]. Samples were considered seropositive when IgG or IgM antibody titers were ≥1:256 or ≥1:16, respectively, which are the criteria used during the first-step of laboratory testing for Lyme disease in South Korea [18].

2.5. Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 (SPSS, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). We conducted univariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with Lyme disease infection among NPOFWs. Following this, factors with p-value < 0.10 were incorporated into multivariate logistic regression with backward elimination to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The statistical significance was set to p-value < 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Personal Profiles of the Participants

The 655 NPOFWs comprised 502 (76.6%) men and 153 (23.4%) women. Median age was 43 years (range, 18–71), and median duration of working for National Park Offices was 7 years (range, 1–38). Four hundred and seventeen workers (63.7%) were based at main offices and 238 (36.3%) at branch offices.

3.2. Serologic Results

Six hundred and fifty-five (46.4%) of 1410 NPOFWs participated in this study. The overall seroprevalence of Lyme disease among participants was 8.1% (53/655). Titer endpoints for B. burgdorferi IgG varied between <1:16 and 1:512, and in 21 samples (3.2%) reached or went beyond 1:256. Titer endpoints for B. burgdorferi IgM varied between <1:16 and 1:32, and in 34 samples (5.2%) reached or went beyond 1:16. Two samples (0.3%) had IgG titers of ≥1:256 and IgM titers of ≥1:16 (Table 1).

3.3. Univariate Analysis of Lyme Disease Infection and Associated Risk Factors

Older individuals (≥50 years) were less likely to be seropositive to B. burgdorferi than younger individuals (<29 years) (p = 0.081). However, duration of work, sex, region, type of organization, and level of education were not associated with Lyme disease infection (Table 2). Although NPOFWs perform various tasks, work type was not associated with Lyme disease infection (Table 3). NPOFWs who always ate meals in woodland during outdoor work were associated with a higher risk of Lyme disease infection (p < 0.001). Additionally, NPOFWs who always showered after outdoor work had a lower risk of Lyme disease infection (p = 0.072, Table 4). Furthermore, workers who raised dogs outside homes were associated with a higher risk of Lyme disease infection (p = 0.005). However, raising dogs inside homes and cats were not associated with Lyme disease infection (Table 5).

3.4. Multivariate Analysis of Lyme Disease Infection and Associated Risk Factors

Potential factors associated with Lyme disease infection as determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis are shown in Table 6. Important variables (p < 0.10) identified by univariate analysis, that is, age, eating meals in woodland, taking a shower after outdoor work, and raising dogs outside homes, were incorporated into multivariate logistic regression analysis with backward elimination. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that always eating meals in woodland (OR, 5.11; 95% CI, 2.08–12.52) was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of Lyme disease infection. Furthermore, the risk of Lyme disease infection was significantly higher among NPOFWs who raised dogs outside homes (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.57–6.75). However, taking a shower after outdoor work did not significantly reduce the risk of Lyme disease infection (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.34–1.07).

4. Discussion

This is the first study conducted to assess the status of Lyme disease infection among forestry workers using nationally representative data in South Korea. In the present analysis, we have identified risk factors associated with Lyme disease infection among NPOFWs, and completed a preliminarily published information on this study [19]. An overall seroprevalence of Lyme disease was 8.1% as determined by IFA (IgG titer ≥1:256 or IgM titer ≥1:16). The seroprevalence, based on an IFA IgG titer ≥1:256 (3.2%), was lower than those reported in Europe among forestry workers, such as in France (15.2%) [20] and Slovenia (9.8%) [21]. A seroepidemiologic study performed in China among people living in forested areas reported Lyme disease seroprevalence ranging from 2.9% to 14.9% as determined by an IFA IgG titer of ≥1:128 [22], which is similar to the seroprevalence of 6.1% (IFA IgG titer ≥1:128) found in this study.
Participants who always ate meals in woodland during outdoor work had a higher odds ratio for seropositivity. Woodland areas with long grass and scrubs are preferred tick habitats, and ticks tend to be plentiful in these areas [23]. A Belgian study among forestry workers reported that the number of tick bites and the use of personal protective measures impacted the seroprevalence of Lyme disease [8]. However, eating meals in woodland was not included in that Belgian study, and we are unaware of any published paper reporting that eating meals in woodland is a possible risk factor of Lyme disease infection.
NPOFWs who raised dogs outside homes were found to be at higher risk of Lyme disease infection, whereas raising dogs inside homes was not associated with the presence of infection. In a previous study on tick exposure risk factors, the presence of indoor/outdoor pets was positively associated with the presence of ticks [14]. Another Chinese study reported that pets in households were not significantly associated with the seroprevalence of Lyme disease [24]. Thus, it appears that dogs kept outside homes can harbor ticks infected with B. burgdorferi and transfer these ticks to their owners. Lyme disease seroprevalence among dogs and cats may be a sentinel marker of human Lyme disease infection because they share the environment with their owners [25,26]. Furthermore, B. burgdorferi infection in dogs has been consistently reported in many countries including South Korea [11,25]. Therefore, we presume that our study participants who were engaged in eating meals in woodland and raising dogs outside homes might have been exposed to tick bites that resulted in the seropositive test results.
Regarding work hygiene-related factors, we found that a higher percentage of participants that always showered after outdoor work were seronegative, though this association did not reach statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. Several previous studies [5,7] have reported reduced risks of Lyme disease among those who use protective measures, such as protective clothing or repellents, and among those that check for ticks during outdoor activities or shower regularly after outdoor work, which would presumably remove any ticks [14]. In this study, the proportions of NPOFWs always using insect repellents (7.4%), using a mat to rest (8.5%), and checking tick bites after outdoor work (15.4%) were relatively low, and the proportion of recognition of Lyme disease was also low (16.8%). Thus, health education about Lyme disease and personal protection to prevent tick bites needs to be strengthened.
The present study has several limitations that warrant consideration. First, seroprevalence may have been influenced by seasonality since our study was performed in the winter (December) to maximize NPOFW participation, when ticks are least active. Second, NPOFWs on Jeju Island (South Korea) were not included. Third, we could not investigate the Lyme disease infection statuses of dogs raised outside homes. Fourth, seropositive test results might not necessarily be equivalent to infection, but rather may simply be evidence of past exposure. However, this is one of the important studies being conducted with a large sample and our findings can have policy implications in South Korea and other similar settings elsewhere.

5. Conclusions

The overall seroprevalence of Lyme disease among NPOFWs in South Korea was found to be 8.1%. Eating meals in woodland and raising dogs outside homes were associated with higher risks of Lyme disease infection. These modifiable risk factors should be considered when designing preventive strategies aimed at reducing Lyme disease infection. Further comparative seroepidemiological and longitudinal studies are required among different populations at risk of Lyme disease infection.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, J.-H.P.; methodology, J.-H.P. and D.A.; software, J.-H.P.; validation, J.-H.P.; formal analysis, J.-H.P.; investigation, J.-H.P.; resources, J.-H.P.; data curation, J.-H.P.; writing—original draft preparation, D.A. and J.-H.P.; writing—review and editing, D.A. and J.-H.P.; supervision, J.-H.P.; project administration, J.-H.P.; funding acquisition, J.-H.P. Both authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (grant number: 2016ER520100).

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Dongguk University Gyeongju Hospital (approval number: 16-286).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Acknowledgments

We would like to highly acknowledge the contributions in conducting this study to Kang Mo Lee, Yoontae Noh, Yeong Seon Lee, Su Yeon Kim. We dedicate this study to late Hyun-Sul Lim who substantially contributed to its design and execution.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Table 1. Serologic results for Borrelia burgdorferi antigen among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
Table 1. Serologic results for Borrelia burgdorferi antigen among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
TiterIgGIgM
No.%No.%
<1:1619629.962194.8
1:1621532.8253.8
1:3213620.891.4
1:646810.400.0
1:128192.900.0
≥1:256213.200.0
Total655100.0655100.0
Table 2. Univariate logistic regression analysis between demographic characteristics and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
Table 2. Univariate logistic regression analysis between demographic characteristics and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
VariablesTotalSeroprevalence
No. (%)
OR (95% CI)p-Value
Sex
 Men50239 (7.8)0.84 (0.44–1.59)0.584
 Women15314 (9.2)Reference
Age (years)
 <29768 (10.5)Reference
 30–49 35034 (9.7)0.91 (0.41–2.06)0.830
 ≥5022911 (4.8)0.43 (0.17–1.11)0.081
Duration of work (years)
 <523216 (6.9)Reference
 5–<1528828 (9.7)1.45 (0.77–2.76)0.252
 ≥151359 (6.7)0.96 (0.41–2.25)0.933
Region
 Northern1349 (6.7)Reference
 Central26017 (6.5)0.97 (0.42–2.24)0.946
 Southern26127 (10.3)1.60 (0.73–3.51)0.239
Organization types
 Main offices41733 (7.9)Reference
 Branch offices23820 (8.4)1.07 (0.60–1.91)0.825
Education
 High school or less22518 (8.0)0.98 (0.54–1.77)0.944
 University or more42935 (8.2)Reference
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
Table 3. Univariate logistic regression analysis between work type and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
Table 3. Univariate logistic regression analysis between work type and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
VariablesTotalSeroprevalence
No. (%)
OR (95% CI)p-Value
Monitoring of natural resources
 Yes27020 (7.4)0.85 (0.48–1.52)0.584
 No38433 (8.6)Reference
Repairing facilities
 Yes43138 (8.8)1.34 (0.72–2.49)0.355
 No22315 (6.7)Reference
Supervision of illegal activities
 Yes39233 (8.4)1.11 (0.62–1.98)0.719
 No26220 (7.6)Reference
Patrolling
 Yes54345 (8.3)1.16 (0.53–2.54)0.704
 No1118 (7.2)Reference
Guiding visitors
 Yes40735 (8.6)1.20 (0.67–2.17)0.542
 No24818 (7.3)Reference
Exploration program
 Yes15216 (10.5)1.48 (0.80–2.75)0.211
 No50337 (7.4)Reference
Grass mowing
 Yes29525 (8.5)1.09 (0.62–1.92)0.753
 No35928 (7.8)Reference
Cleaning
 Yes33426 (7.8)0.92 (0.52–1.61)0.760
 No32027 (8.4)Reference
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
Table 4. Univariate logistic regression analysis between work hygiene-related factors and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
Table 4. Univariate logistic regression analysis between work hygiene-related factors and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
VariablesTotalSeroprevalence No. (%)OR (95% CI)p-Value
During outdoor work
Wearing a long-sleeved shirt
 Always21017 (8.1)1.03 (0.56–1.88)0.925
 Others44435 (7.9)Reference
Wearing long pants
 Always44833 (7.4)0.74 (0.42–1.33)0.318
 Others20720 (9.7)Reference
Wearing gloves
 Always29728 (9.4)1.38 (0.79–2.43)0.260
 Others35725 (7.0)Reference
Wearing boots
 Always32731 (9.5)1.45 (0.82–2.57)0.199
 Others32722 (6.7)Reference
Wearing a hat
 Always25823 (8.9)1.19 (0.68–2.11)0.540
 Others39630 (7.6)Reference
Using insect repellents
 Always264 (15.4)2.14 (0.71–6.46)0.177
 Others62649 (7.8)Reference
Resting on the grass
 Always142 (14.3)1.93 (0.42–8.85)0.398
 Others64151 (8.0)Reference
Using a mat to rest
 Always624 (6.5)0.76 (0.27–2.19)0.617
 Others59249 (8.3)Reference
Eating meals in woodland
 Always298 (27.6)4.91 (2.06–11.71)<0.001
 Others62545 (7.2)Reference
Defecating/urinating in woodland
 Always82 (25.0)3.90 (0.77–19.80)0.101
 Others64751 (7.9)Reference
After outdoor work
Taking a shower
 Always38625 (6.5)0.60 (0.34–1.05)0.072
 Others26928 (10.4)Reference
Taking a bath
 Always16814 (8.3)1.04 (0.55–1.97)0.899
 Others48639 (8.0)Reference
Changing working clothes daily
 Always23118 (7.8)0.94 (0.52–1.70)0.836
 Others42435 (8.3)Reference
Washing working clothes daily
 Always22916 (7.0)0.79 (0.43–1.45)0.448
 Others42637 (8.7)Reference
Checking tick bites
 Always1029 (8.8)1.12 (0.53–2.37)0.772
 Others55244 (8.0)Reference
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
Table 5. Univariate logistic regression analysis between other work-related factors and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
Table 5. Univariate logistic regression analysis between other work-related factors and Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
VariablesTotalSeroprevalence
No. (%)
OR (95% CI)p-Value
Additional jobs
 Rice farming
  Yes213 (14.3)1.95 (0.55–6.83)0.299
  No63450 (7.9)Reference
 Dry field farming
  Yes938 (8.6)1.08 (0.49–2.37)0.845
  No56245 (8.0)Reference
 Orchard farming
  Yes263 (11.5)1.51 (0.44–5.21)0.514
  No62950 (7.9)Reference
 Livestock farming
  Yes131 (7.7)0.95 (0.12–7.42)0.957
  No64252 (8.1)Reference
Raising animals
 Dogs (outside homes)
  Yes7012 (17.1)2.75 (1.37–5.52)0.005
  No58541 (7.0)Reference
 Dogs (inside homes)
  Yes525 (9.6)1.23 (0.47–3.24)0.675
  No60348 (8.0)Reference
 Cats
  Yes282 (7.1)0.87 (0.20–3.77)0.851
  No62751 (8.1)Reference
Recognition of Lyme disease
 Yes11010 (9.1)1.17 (0.57–2.40)0.674
 No54543 (7.9)Reference
Recognition of tick bites
 Yes758 (10.7)1.42 (0.64–3.13)0.390
 No57945 (7.8)Reference
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
Table 6. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of important variables (p < 0.10) associated with Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
Table 6. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of important variables (p < 0.10) associated with Lyme disease seroprevalence among National Park Office forestry workers in South Korea.
VariablesOR (95% CI)p-Value
Age (years)
 <29Reference
 30–49 0.98 (0.42–2.30)0.971
 ≥500.41 (0.15–1.10)0.078
Eating meals in woodland during outdoor work
 Always5.11 (2.08–12.52)<0.001
 OthersReference
Taking a shower after outdoor work
 Always0.60 (0.34–1.07)0.086
 OthersReference
Raising dogs (outside homes)
 Yes3.25 (1.57–6.75)0.002
 NoReference
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
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Acharya, D.; Park, J.-H. Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2933. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062933

AMA Style

Acharya D, Park J-H. Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(6):2933. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062933

Chicago/Turabian Style

Acharya, Dilaram, and Ji-Hyuk Park. 2021. "Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 6: 2933. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062933

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