Abstract
Background: Only limited data are available on incidence and prevalence of infection with the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent in a healthy population.
Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, we tested 361 male soldiers (age 18–29 years) from southwestern Germany for the HGE agent immunoglobulin G (IgG) using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay and for Borrelia burgdorferi IgG with an ELISA at the beginning and the end of their 10-month military service. Using a standardized questionnaire, the subjects were asked about clinical symptoms at the beginning and the end of the observation period.
Results: Of these 361 subjects, 14.9% were HGE agent IgG positive at study entry. 19 participants (5.3%) seroconverted from IgG negative to positive during the observation period resulting in an incidence rate of 6.4% per year. 20 subjects converted from initially HGE agent. IgG positive to negative resulting in a reconversion rate of 6.6% per year. Concurrence of Borrelia IgG and HGE agent IgG was observed in 21.1%, whereas 13.7% were HGE agent IgG positive but Borrelia IgG negative (not significant). Clinical symptoms associated with HGE were not present in seroconverting subjects.
Conclusion: Infection with the HGE agent occurs frequently in southwestern Germany but was asymptomatic in these young subjects.
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Received: January 11, 2001 · Revision accepted: July 12, 2001
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Woessner, R., Gaertner, B., Grauer, M. et al. Incidence and Prevalence of Infection with Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Agent in Germany. A Prospective Study in Young Healthy Subjects. Infection 29, 271–273 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-001-2005-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-001-2005-x