Risk of Exposure and Prevention of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Among Foresters in Alsace

Recruiting

• Conditions: Lyme Borreliosis

• Registration Number: NCT06492668
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

Brief Summary

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that feed on vertebrate hosts. Although wild and domestic animals are the primary source of tick blood meals, humans can be an accidental host. During a blood meal, a microorganism can be transmitted to the host who can develop a disease. All infectious diseases transmitted by ticks are referred to as tick-borne diseases (TBDs). They are the most prevalent vector-borne diseases in the Northern Hemisphere. Among these diseases, Lyme borreliosis is the most common.

In Europe, Lyme borreliosis does not cause high fevers (\> 38°C). Therefore, when a patient presents with a high fever with the notion of exposure to ticks, another etiology must be suspected. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and the tick-borne encephalitis virus are classically described as causing febrile syndromes.

In France, ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasing, particularly those associated with the Ixodes ricinus tick. This tick is mainly present in forest ecosystems with a peak of activity in May. Foresters represent a population with biting ticks and tick-borne diseases, notably Lyme borreliosis.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-01-01
• Status Verified: 2024-07
• Study First Submitted: 2024-07-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-07-01
• Study First Posted: 2024-07-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-07-11
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-15
• Primary Completion: 2025-07
• Study Completion: 2025-07-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Major forester (≥18 years old)
• Male or female gender
• ONF (National Forestry Office) staff
• Regularly exposed to ticks in Alsace (exclusively)
• Practicing regular forestry activities in a group
• Agreeing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria:

• Refusal to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of ticks found on clothing during activities in forest ecosystems, and if tick bites, their number.	1 year	This study is carried out on foresters in the Alsacce region over a period of one year.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre National de Référence Borrelia - CHU de Strasbourg - France; 🇫🇷 Strasbourg, Les Hôpitaux Universitaires De Strasbourg, France