Issue: Vojnosanit Pregl 2017; Vol. 74 (No. 4)
Procena rizika od lajmske bolesti primenom ekološkog indeksa rizika u parkovima Beograda
Authors:
Milena Krstić, Novica Stajković, Dubravko Bokonjić, Srdjan Lazić
Background/Aim. Factors determining the risk of Lyme disease(LD) may be followed in terms of the type of habitat. The
evaluation of the risk of Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) transmission
in humans on Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) tick habitats is
done by means of the ecological risk index, which determines
the tick habitat, abundance and infection rate. The aim of this
paper was to determine the value of ecological risk index (potential
and actual risk – PR and AR) on green areas in 9 pаrks
in Belgrade and establish the correlation of this index with tick
bites in humans. Methods. Ticks were collected in parks by
means of the flag hour method and examined for the presence
of LD cause in dark-field microscopic analysis. Point values
were assigned to certain parameters and potential and actual
risk index evaluated for each habitat. The data on tick bites
from the surveyed habitats were obtained from the Protocol of
patients bitten by ticks of the Sector for Preventive Medicine,
Institute of Epidemiology, Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.
Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey test and Pearson
´s coefficient were used in statistical analysis of data.
Results. In Belgrade´s park habitats a high PR of B. burgdorferi
transmission was determined, while AR for 4 habitats was categorised
as PR, and limited for other 5 habitats. Statistically, in
terms of AR values the following habitats were significantly different
(p < 0.05): Hаjd Pаrk and Tаšmаjdаn; Hаjd Pаrk and
Kаlemegdаn; Hаjd Pаrk and Pionirski Pаrk; Hаjd Pаrk and
Bаnovo Brdo; Topčider and Tаšmаjdаn; Topčider and
Kаlemegdаn; Topčider and Pionirski Pаrk; Topčider and
Bаnovo Brdo Park. A statistically significant correlation
(p < 0.05) between bites of adults and the number of bites of
infected adults with the AR value was established. Conclusion.
In parks of Belgrade, there is a limited AR of B. burgdorferi
transmission on the average. The AR values vary from limited
to the potential, depending on the ecological features of habitat,
the number of collected ticks and their infection rate. In
view of the correlation of AR with the bites in humans, this index
is significant for assessing LD risk.
