J Prev Med Public Health.  2018 Jul;51(4):213-214. 10.3961/jpmph.18.081.

Horses as a Potential Reservoir of Lyme Borreliosis in Jeju-do, Korea

• Bae JM

• KMID: 2418820
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.18.081

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in North America, and it was designated as a national notifiable infectious disease in Korea in December 2010. While no cases in Jeju-do were recorded from 2012 to 2016, a recent survey reported that the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in horses in Jeju-do was 19.0% (95% confidence interval, 12.0 to 28.3%). This fact suggests that horses may be a potential reservoir of LB in Jeju-do and that individuals in close contact with horses may be a high-risk group. Thus, a serological study in this high-risk group is urgently needed.

Keyword

Borrelia burgdorferi; Ixodes; Lyme borreliosis; Lyme disease; Tick

MeSH Terms

Borrelia burgdorferi
Communicable Diseases
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Horses*
Ixodes
Jeju-do*
Korea*
Lyme Disease*
North America
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Ticks