Tick-borne diseases are infectious diseases transmitted through tiny arachnids, called ticks (Ixodida). In Poland, they are caused by at least 5 species (or groups of species) of microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, protozoa). Of these, the most important is the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete causing Lyme borreliosis, which is a common cause of occupational diseases in foresters and farmers.

The main directions of prevention of tick-borne diseases include: preventive vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis and meningitis, avoiding the consumption of raw milk, the use of appropriate protective clothing when working in the forest or on the edges of the forest, body inspection and taking a spray after returning from work in the forest, quick and skillful removal of forceps sucked into the body, the use of repellents, health education, medical care for endangered forestry workers and  agriculture, preventive actions on the part of the OHS department of the State Forests, reduction of the number of ticks in the natural environment.

Among the most important pathogens provoking tick-borne diseases are:

• Central European tick-borne encephalitis and meningitis virus.
• Spiral bacteria that cause Lyme borreliosis.
• Small bacteria that cause granulocytic anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum).
• Bacteria of the genus Rickettsia, which cause spotted fevers.
• Protozoa of the genus Babesia (B. microti, B. divergens) causing babesiosis.

Ticks can also carry other pathogenic microorganisms such as Bartonella (causing bartonellosis), Coxiella burnetii (causing Q fever), Francisella tularensis (causing tularemia) and the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii (causing toxoplasmosis).

The greatest epidemiological importance is Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the cause of many cases of Lyme disease in foresters and farmers in Poland. Preventive vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis and meningitis is an effective form of prevention, but, unfortunately, there are no effective vaccines against other tick-borne diseases, such as borreliosis.

Important preventive measures include:

• Wearing appropriate protective clothing when working in the forest, including light and airy light overalls, headgear and the use of special clothing impregnated with acaricide.
• Thorough washing of the body after returning from work in the forest and reviewing the body to remove ticks.
• Remove ticks as soon as possible using tweezers or special instruments, avoiding pulling them out with your fingers.
• The use of repellents and acaricides on clothing to repel and kill ticks.

Source: CIOP and BIP materials

Source: https://www.seka.pl/profilaktyka-chorob-odkleszczowych/

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.