FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Wien Klin Wochenschr / Contact with horses is a risk factor for tick-borne lymphade...
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift2012; 124(17-18); 611-617; doi: 10.1007/s00508-012-0217-y

Contact with horses is a risk factor for tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA): a case control study.

Abstract: Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) is an emerging infection caused by Rickettsia slovaca. We describe here the seasonal, age and gender characteristics as well as the association with horse contact as risk factors for acquiring TIBOLA in comparison with another, more frequent tick-borne disease, Lyme borreliosis.We analysed a dataset of 855 patients diagnosed with either Lyme (n = 805) or TIBOLA (n = 50) disease using Fisher's exact tests and generalized linear models. Then we performed a matched case-control study in which all TIBOLA patients were paired with one Lyme patient matching in age and gender. We identified the species of ticks collected from the TIBOLA patients (n = 16).We found that horse contact was significantly more frequent among TIBOLA (34/50; 68 %) than among Lyme patients (110/805; 13.7 %) (OR = 13.35, p < 0.001). The younger age and female gender associated with higher risk of acquiring TIBOLA (OR = 3.99, p < 0.001). Ten of the 16 ticks were D. marginatus, six were D. reticulatus suggesting that both species are responsible for transmitting R. slovaca. Two patients acquired the infection from male ticks. TIBOLA is a tick-borne zoonosis, which might have a specific association with horse contact.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2012-08-10 PubMed ID: 22878792DOI: 10.1007/s00508-012-0217-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the connection between human contact with horses and a higher risk of developing tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA), a certain type of infection caused by the Rickettsia slovaca bacterium, comparing its incidence with that of Lyme disease.

Research methodology

  • The researchers analyzed information from 855 patients who were diagnosed with either Lyme disease or TIBOLA.
  • Data from the patients were analysed using statistical methods such as Fisher’s exact tests and generalized linear models.
  • A case-control study was implemented, where each patient with TIBOLA (n = 50) was paired with a Lyme disease patient of the same age and gender for comparative analysis.
  • The research team identified the species of ticks responsible for TIBOLA by examining 16 ticks collected from patients.

Main findings

  • The study found that contact with horses was significantly more common among TIBOLA patients (68%) compared to Lyme disease patients (13.7%). In fact, being in contact with horses increased the probability of contracting TIBOLA by over 13 times.
  • Younger individuals and females were observed to have a higher risk of acquiring TIBOLA. Specifically, their odds of contracting the disease were almost 4 times higher than the others.
  • The researchers identified two ticks species – D. marginatus and D. reticulatus – as probable transmitters of the Rickettsia slovaca bacterium that causes TIBOLA. Two cases were also noted in which infection occurred through male ticks.
  • The implication is that TIBOLA is a zoonosis (diseases that humans can get from animals) that might have a specific association with interaction with horses.

Conclusion

  • The researchers concluded that interaction with horses significantly increases the risk of encountering ticks carrying the Rickettsia slovaca bacterium which leads to TIBOLA.
  • Younger age and female gender are other key factors that elevate the risk of getting this infection. This research provides a base for preventive measures like avoiding unnecessary exposure to horses especially among younger females.

Cite This Article

APA
Lakos A, Kőrösi A, Földvári G. (2012). Contact with horses is a risk factor for tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA): a case control study. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 124(17-18), 611-617. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0217-y

Publication

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
ISSN: 1613-7671
NlmUniqueID: 21620870R
Country: Austria
Language: English
Volume: 124
Issue: 17-18
Pages: 611-617

Researcher Affiliations

Lakos, András
  • Centre for Tick-Borne Diseases, Budapest, Visegrádi 14, 1132, Budapest, Hungary. alakos@t-online.hu
Kőrösi, Adám
    Földvári, Gábor

      MeSH Terms

      • Adolescent
      • Adult
      • Aged
      • Aged, 80 and over
      • Animals
      • Case-Control Studies
      • Child
      • Child, Preschool
      • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
      • Contact Tracing / statistics & numerical data
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horses
      • Humans
      • Hungary / epidemiology
      • Infant
      • Infant, Newborn
      • Lymphatic Diseases / epidemiology
      • Male
      • Middle Aged
      • Prevalence
      • Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
      • Risk Factors
      • Young Adult

      References

      This article includes 17 references
      1. Hornok S, Meli ML, Perreten A, Farkas R, Willi B, Beugnet F, Lutz H, Hofmann-Lehmann R. Molecular investigation of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) as potential vectors of rickettsial and mycoplasmal agents.. Vet Microbiol 2010 Jan 6;140(1-2):98-104.
        pubmed: 19660880doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.07.013google scholar: lookup
      2. Selmi M, Bertolotti L, Tomassone L, Mannelli A. Rickettsia slovaca in Dermacentor marginatus and tick-borne lymphadenopathy, Tuscany, Italy.. Emerg Infect Dis 2008 May;14(5):817-20.
        pubmed: 18439371doi: 10.3201/eid1405.070976google scholar: lookup
      3. Rieg S, Schmoldt S, Theilacker C, de With K, Wölfel S, Kern WV, Dobler G. Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) acquired in Southwestern Germany.. BMC Infect Dis 2011 Jun 10;11:167.
        pubmed: 21663601doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-11-167google scholar: lookup
      4. Komitova R, Lakos A, Aleksandrov A, Christova I, Murdjeva M. A case of tick-transmitted lymphadenopathy in Bulgaria associated with Rickettsia slovaca.. Scand J Infect Dis 2003;35(3):213.
        pubmed: 12751725doi: 10.1080/0036554021000027016google scholar: lookup
      5. Parola P, Rovery C, Rolain JM, Brouqui P, Davoust B, Raoult D. Rickettsia slovaca and R. raoultii in tick-borne Rickettsioses.. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Jul;15(7):1105-8.
        pubmed: 19624931doi: 10.3201/eid1507.081449google scholar: lookup
      6. Raoult D, Berbis P, Roux V, Xu W, Maurin M. A new tick-transmitted disease due to Rickettsia slovaca.. Lancet 1997 Jul 12;350(9071):112-3.
        pubmed: 9228967doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)61814-4google scholar: lookup
      7. Stiller D, Goff WL, Johnson LW, Knowles DP. Dermacentor variabilis and boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae): experimental vectors of Babesia equi to equids.. J Med Entomol 2002 Jul;39(4):667-70.
        pubmed: 12144301doi: 10.1603/0022-2585-39.4.667google scholar: lookup
      8. Ibarra V, Oteo JA, Portillo A, Santibáñez S, Blanco JR, Metola L, Eiros JM, Pérez-Martínez L, Sanz M. Rickettsia slovaca infection: DEBONEL/TIBOLA.. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006 Oct;1078:206-14.
        pubmed: 17114711doi: 10.1196/annals.1374.040google scholar: lookup
      9. Sréter-Lancz Z, Széll Z, Kovács G, Egyed L, Márialigeti K, Sréter T. Rickettsiae of the spotted-fever group in ixodid ticks from Hungary: identification of a new genotype ('Candidatus Rickettsia kotlanii').. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2006 Apr;100(3):229-36.
        pubmed: 16630380doi: 10.1179/136485906X91468google scholar: lookup
      10. Porta FS, Nieto EA, Creus BF, Espín TM, Casanova FJ, Sala IS, García SL, Aguilar JL, Vilaseca MQ. Tick-borne lymphadenopathy: a new infectious disease in children.. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2008 Jul;27(7):618-22.
        pubmed: 18520970doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31816b1947google scholar: lookup
      11. Lakos A, Ferenczi E, Komoly S, Granström M. Different B-cell populations are responsible for the peripheral and intrathecal antibody production in neuroborreliosis.. Int Immunol 2005 Dec;17(12):1631-7.
        pubmed: 16303786doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxh343google scholar: lookup
      12. Oteo JA, Ibarra V, Blanco JR, Martínez de Artola V, Márquez FJ, Portillo A, Raoult D, Anda P. Dermacentor-borne necrosis erythema and lymphadenopathy: clinical and epidemiological features of a new tick-borne disease.. Clin Microbiol Infect 2004 Apr;10(4):327-31.
        pubmed: 15059122doi: 10.1111/j.1198-743X.2004.00782.xgoogle scholar: lookup
      13. Fernández-Soto P, Pérez-Sánchez R, Encinas-Grandes A, Alamo Sanz R. Rickettsia slovaca in Dermacentor ticks found on humans in Spain.. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2006 Feb;25(2):129-31.
        pubmed: 16450104doi: 10.1007/s10096-006-0087-1google scholar: lookup
      14. Lakos A. Tick-borne lymphadenopathy--a new rickettsial disease?. Lancet 1997 Oct 4;350(9083):1006.
        pubmed: 9329524doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)64072-Xgoogle scholar: lookup
      15. Pérez-Pérez L, Portillo A, Allegue F, Zulaica A, Oteo JA, Caeiro JL, Fabeiro JM. Dermacentor-borne Necrosis Erythema and Lymphadenopathy (DEBONEL): A case associated with Rickettsia rioja.. Acta Derm Venereol 2010 Mar;90(2):214-5.
        pubmed: 20169320doi: 10.2340/00015555-0801google scholar: lookup
      16. Lakos A. Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA).. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2002 Jul 31;114(13-14):648-54.
        pubmed: 12422619
      17. Raoult D, Lakos A, Fenollar F, Beytout J, Brouqui P, Fournier PE. Spotless rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia slovaca and associated with Dermacentor ticks.. Clin Infect Dis 2002 May 15;34(10):1331-6.
        pubmed: 11981728doi: 10.1086/340100google scholar: lookup

      Citations

      This article has been cited 6 times.
      1. Chang QC, Hu Y, Wu TT, Ma XX, Jiang BG, Jia N, Wang AQ, Jiang JF. The Role of Ranged Horses in Eco-Epidemiology of Rickettsia raoultii Infection in China.. Front Microbiol 2021;12:795500.
        doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.795500pubmed: 35111141google scholar: lookup
      2. Sekeyová Z, Danchenko M, Filipčík P, Fournier PE. Rickettsial infections of the central nervous system.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Aug;13(8):e0007469.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007469pubmed: 31465452google scholar: lookup
      3. Ebani VV. Serological Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia spp. Exposure in Horses from Central Italy.. Pathogens 2019 Jun 26;8(3).
        doi: 10.3390/pathogens8030088pubmed: 31247976google scholar: lookup
      4. Selmi M, Tomassone L, Ceballos LA, Crisci A, Ragagli C, Pintore MD, Mignone W, Pautasso A, Ballardini M, Casalone C, Mannelli A. Analysis of the environmental and host-related factors affecting the distribution of the tick Dermacentor marginatus.. Exp Appl Acarol 2018 Jun;75(2):209-225.
        doi: 10.1007/s10493-018-0257-8pubmed: 29713917google scholar: lookup
      5. Földvári G, Široký P, Szekeres S, Majoros G, Sprong H. Dermacentor reticulatus: a vector on the rise.. Parasit Vectors 2016 Jun 1;9(1):314.
        doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1599-xpubmed: 27251148google scholar: lookup
      6. Duscher GG, Feiler A, Leschnik M, Joachim A. Seasonal and spatial distribution of ixodid tick species feeding on naturally infested dogs from Eastern Austria and the influence of acaricides/repellents on these parameters.. Parasit Vectors 2013 Mar 19;6:76.
        doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-76pubmed: 23510263google scholar: lookup
      Subscribe to our newsletter
      Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.