%0 Report %D 2024 %T TekenNet 2023 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Tinne Lernout %8 03/2024 %G eng %0 Report %D 2024 %T TiquesNet 2023 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Tinne Lernout %8 04/2024 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Epidemiologische surveillance van bartonellose – 2019-2021 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Benoît Kabamba Mukadi %8 07/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Epidemiologische surveillance van bartonellose – 2022 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Benoît Kabamba Mukadi %8 12/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Epidemiologische surveillance van rickettsiose. Rickettsia spp. – 2022 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Amber Litzroth %A Van Esbroeck, Marjan %8 12/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Onderzoek naar ziektekiemen in teken - Tekeninzameling april-oktober 2021 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Camille Philippe %A Marie Hermy %A Marcella Mori %A Tinne Lernout %8 04/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Recherche de pathogènes présents chez les tiques - Collecte de tiques avril-octobre 2021 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Camille Philippe %A Marie Hermy %A Marcella Mori %A Tinne Lernout %8 04/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Surveillance épidémiologique de la bartonellose - 2019-2021 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi %8 07/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Surveillance épidémiologique de la bartonellose – 2022 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Benoît Kabamba Mukadi %8 12/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Surveillance épidémiologique de la rickettsiose. Rickettsia spp. - 2022 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Amber Litzroth %A Van Esbroeck, Marjan %8 12/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T TekenNet 2022 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Tinne Lernout %8 04/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T TiquesNet 2022 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Tinne Lernout %8 04/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaaroverzicht 2022 %A Tinne Lernout %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Amber Litzroth %A Javiera Rebolledo %A Giulietta Stefani %8 12/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaaroverzicht 2019-2021 %A Tinne Lernout %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Amber Litzroth %A Javiera Rebolledo %A Giulietta Stefani %8 07/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Synthèse annuelle 2019-2021 %A Tinne Lernout %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Amber Litzroth %A Javiera Rebolledo %A Giulietta Stefani %8 07/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Synthèse annuelle 2022 %A Tinne Lernout %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Marie Hermy %A Amber Litzroth %A Javiera Rebolledo %A Giulietta Stefani %8 12/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2022 %T Epidemiologische surveillance van hantavirose - 2021 %A Marie Hermy %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Melissa Depypere %A Lize Cuypers %A Piet Maes %8 December 2022 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J BMC Public Health %D 2022 %T Lyme borreliosis in Belgium: a cost-of-illness analysis %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Brecht Devleesschauwer %A Tinne Lernout %A Katrien Tersago %A Yves Parmentier %A Herman Van Oyen %A Niko Speybroeck %A Philippe Beutels %K Belgium %K Disseminated Lyme borreliosis %K Economic cost %K Erythema migrans %K Late Lyme borreliosis %K Lyme borreliosis %X

Background. Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Europe and North America, yet its economic burden remains largely unknown. This study aimed to estimate the economic cost associated with the different clinical manifestations of LB in Belgium.

Methods. An incidence approach and societal perspective were used to estimate the total cost-of-illness for LB in Belgium. Costs were calculated for patients with erythema migrans (EM) or disseminated/late LB, including patients who developed post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Direct medical, direct non-medical (transportation & paid help) and indirect non-medical costs (productivity losses) were included in the analysis. Ambulatory cost data were collected through a prospective cohort study from June 2016 to March 2020, in which patients with LB were followed up 6 to 12 months after diagnosis. Hospitalization costs were retrieved from the Minimal Clinical Data registry, a mandatory registry for all Belgian hospitals, linked to the Minimal Financial Data registry. Costs were expressed in 2019 euros.

Results. The total annual cost associated with clinical manifestations of LB in Belgium was estimated at €5.59 million (95% UI 3.82–7.98). Of these, €3.44 million (95% UI 2.05–5.48) or 62% was related to disseminated/late LB diagnoses and €2.15 million (95% UI 1.30–3.26) to EM. In general, direct medical costs and productivity losses accounted for 49.8% and 46.4% of the total costs, respectively, while direct non-medical costs accounted for only 3.8%. The estimated mean costs were €193 per EM patient and €5,148 per disseminated/late LB patient. While patients with PTLDS seemed to have somewhat higher costs compared to patients without PTLDS, the number of patients was too small to have representative estimates.

Conclusions. We estimate the total annual direct medical costs, direct non-medical and indirect non-medical costs associated with LB to exceed €5.5 million per year, almost evenly distributed between EM (40%) and disseminated/late LB (60%). EM costs 26 times less per patient but occurs also 16 times more frequently than disseminated/late LB. The cost burden remains limited by comparison to other infectious diseases due to the relative lower incidence.

%B BMC Public Health %V 22 %8 Jan-12-2022 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s12889-022-14380-6 %0 Journal Article %J Parasites & Vectors %D 2022 %T No molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of patients with erythema migrans in Belgium %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Tinne Lernout %A Katrien Tersago %A Sanne Terryn %A Joppe W. Hovius %A Arieke Docters van Leeuwen %A Steven Van Gucht %A Speybroeck, Niko %A Sprong, Hein %K Erythema migrans %K Ixodes ricinus %K Lyme borreliosis %K Neoehrlichosis %K Neoerhlichia mikurensis %K Tick-borne pathogens %X

Background

A number of tick-borne pathogens circulate in the Belgian tick population in addition to the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis. However, so far, only a few patients with tick-borne diseases other than Lyme borreliosis have been reported in Belgium. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of other human tick-borne infections in Belgium and their possible clinical manifestation.

Methods

Patients with fever (> 37.5 °C) after a tick bite or those with erythema migrans (EM) were included in the study. EDTA-blood samples were screened for the presence of DNA from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, spotted fever group rickettsiae (genus Rickettsia), Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Spiroplasma ixodetis and tick-borne encephalitis virus, using multiplex PCR methods. A questionnaire on, among others, demographics and clinical symptoms, was also filled in.

Results

Over a period of 3 years, 119 patients with EM and 14 patients with fever after a recent tick bite were enrolled in the study. Three samples initially tested positive for N. mikurensis by quantitative PCR (qPCR), but the results could not be confirmed by other PCR methods, and repetition of the DNA extraction procedure and qPCR test was not successful. The qPCR test results for the other tick-borne pathogens were negative.

Conclusions

In general, only a few patients with fever after a tick bite could be identified. Although no tick-borne pathogens were detected, their occurrence cannot be excluded based on the limited number of patients and the limitations inherent to current methodologies. This study underscores the possibility of false-positive PCR results and the necessity for the development of multiple independent tools for the sensitive and specific detection of emerging tick-borne pathogens.

%B Parasites & Vectors %V 15 %8 Jan-12-2022 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s13071-021-05139-w %0 Journal Article %J BMC Infectious Diseases %D 2022 %T Non-specific symptoms and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome in patients with Lyme borreliosis: a prospective cohort study in Belgium (2016–2020) %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Tinne Lernout %A Brecht Devleesschauwer %A Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi %A Veroniek Saegeman %A Leïla Belkhir %A Paul De Munter %A Bénédicte Dubois %A Rene Westhovens %A Jean-Baptiste Giot %A Philippe Léonard %A Riet Vangheluwe %A Grégoire Wieërs %A Jean-Christophe Marot %A Frédéric Evrard %A Bénédicte Delaere %A Séverine Noirhomme %A Els Binnemans %A Johan Vanhoof %A Herman Van Oyen %A Niko Speybroeck %A Katrien Tersago %K Disseminated Lyme borreliosis %K Erythema migrans %K Lyme borreliosis %K Persisting non-specific symptoms %K Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome %X

Background

Patients with Lyme borreliosis (LB) may report persisting non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, widespread musculoskeletal pain or cognitive difficulties. When present for more than 6 months and causing a reduction in daily activities, this is often referred to as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). This study aimed to compare the occurrence of symptoms between LB patients and controls, to estimate the proportion of LB patients developing PTLDS and to identify risk factors.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was set up including three subpopulations: patients with an erythema migrans (EM) (i) or disseminated/late LB (ii) and a non-LB control group (iii). At 6- and 12-months follow-up, the occurrence of several symptoms, including six symptoms used to define PTLDS, i.e. muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, memory problems, difficulties concentrating and problems finding words, and impact on daily activities, was compared between LB patients and controls. Finally, the proportion of LB patients developing PTLDS as defined by the Infectious Disease Society of America was estimated, including a time frame for symptoms to be present.

Results

Although the risk of presenting PTLDS-related symptoms was significantly higher in EM patients (n = 120) compared to controls (n = 128) at 6 months follow-up, the risk of presenting at least one of these symptoms combined with impact on daily activities was not significantly higher in EM patients, at either 6- or 12-months follow-up. A significant association was found between disseminated/late LB (n = 15) and the occurrence of any PTLDS-symptom with an impact on daily activities at both time points. The proportion of patients with PTLDS was estimated at 5.9% (95% CI 2.7–12.9) in EM patients and 20.9% (95% CI 6.8–64.4) in patients with disseminated/late LB (RR = 3.53, 95% CI 0.98–12.68, p = 0.053). No significant risk factors were identified, which may be explained by small sample sizes.

Conclusions

In our study, PTLDS was present in both LB cohorts, yet with a higher percentage in disseminated/late LB patients. Additional research is needed into risk factors for and causes of this syndrome. In addition, development and validation of standardized methods to assess the PTLDS case definition, easily applicable in practice, is of great importance.

%B BMC Infectious Diseases %V 22 %8 Jan-12-2022 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s12879-022-07686-8 %0 Report %D 2022 %T Surveillance épidémiologique de l’hantavirose - 2021 %A Marie Hermy %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Melissa Depypere %A Lize Cuypers %A Piet Maes %8 December 2022 %G eng %0 Report %D 2022 %T TekenNet 2021 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België %A Marie Hermy %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Mathias Leroy %A Tinne Lernout %K burgersurveillance %K Lyme-borreliose %K preventie %K risicokaart %K teken %K tekenbeten %8 03/2022 %G eng %0 Report %D 2022 %T TiquesNet 2021 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique %A Marie Hermy %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Mathias Leroy %A Tinne Lernout %K borréliose de Lyme %K carte de risque %K morsures de tiques %K prevention %K surveillance citoyenne %K tiques %8 03/2022 %G eng %0 Report %D 2021 %T Epidemiologische surveillance van hantavirose - 2019 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Melissa Depypere %A Lize Cuypers %A Piet Maes %8 nov 2021 %G eng %0 Report %D 2021 %T Epidemiologische surveillance van hantavirose - 2020 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Melissa Depypere %A Lize Cuypers %A Piet Maes %8 dec 2021 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J J Clin Virol %D 2021 %T Performance of five rapid serological tests in mild-diseased subjects using finger prick blood for exposure assessment to SARS-CoV-2. %A David Triest %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Robby De Pauw %A Stéphane De Craeye %A Alexandra Vodolazkaia %A Mathieu Verbrugghe %A Koen Magerman %A Lara-Lauren Robben %A Pieter Pannus %A Kristof Neven %A Dirk Ramaekers %A Steven Van Gucht %A Katelijne Dierick %A Nele Van Loon %A Maria Goossens %A I Desombere %K Antibodies, Viral %K COVID-19 %K Humans %K SARS-CoV-2 %K Sensitivity and Specificity %K Seroepidemiologic Studies %K Serologic Tests %X

OBJECTIVES: Assess the performance of five SARS-CoV-2 rapid serological tests (RST) using finger prick (FP) blood on-site to evaluate their usability for exposure assessment in population-based seroprevalence studies.

STUDY DESIGN: Since cross-reactivity with common cold human coronaviruses occurs, serological testing includes a risk of false-positive results. Therefore, the selected cohort for RST-validation was based on combined immunoassay (presence of specific antibodies) and RT-qPCR (presence of SARS-CoV-2) data. RST-performance for FP blood and serum was assessed by performing each RST in two groups, namely SARSCoV- 2 positive (n=108) and negative healthcare workers (n=89). Differences in accuracy and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were calculated for a range (1-50%) of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence estimates.

RESULTS: The OrientGene showed overall acceptable performance, with sensitivities of 94.4% and 100%, and specificities of 96.6% and 94.4%, using FP blood and serum, respectively. Although three RST reach optimal specificities (100%), the OrientGene clearly outperforms in sensitivity. At a SARS-CoV-2 prevalence rate of 40%, this RST outperforms the other tests in NPV (96.3%) and reaches comparable PPV (94.9%). Although the specificity of the Covid-Presto is excellent when using FP blood or serum (100% and 97.8%, respectively), its sensitivity decreases when using FP blood (76.9%) compared to serum (98.1%).

CONCLUSIONS: Performances of the evaluated RST differ largely. Only one out of five RST (OrientGene) had acceptable sensitivity and specificity using FP blood. Therefore, the latter could be used for seroprevalence studies in a high-prevalence situation. The OrientGene, which measures anti-RBD antibodies, can be valuable after vaccination as well.

%B J Clin Virol %V 142 %8 2021 09 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104897 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Surveillance épidémiologique de l’hantavirose - 2019 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Melissa Depypere %A Lize Cuypers %A Piet Maes %8 nov 2021 %G eng %0 Report %D 2021 %T Surveillance épidémiologique de l’hantavirose - 2020 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Melissa Depypere %A Lize Cuypers %A Piet Maes %8 dec 2021 %G eng %0 Report %D 2021 %T TekenNet 2020 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Mathias Leroy %A Tinne Lernout %K burgersurveillance %K Lyme-borreliose %K preventie %K risicokaart %K teken %K tekenbeten %I Sciensano %C Brussels, Belgium %P 12 %8 03/2021 %G eng %U https://tekennet.sciensano.be/reports/Final_Surveillance%20van%20tekenbeten_TekenNet%202020.pdf %M D/2021/14.440/24 %0 Thesis %D 2021 %T Tick-borne diseases in Belgium: The incidence and economic burden of Lyme borreliosis and the occurrence of other tick-borne infections %A Geebelen, Laurence %K Belgium %K Economic cost %K incidence %K Lyme borreliosis %K Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome %K Tick-borne pathogens %X

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in Europe. The most common clinical manifestation is an erythema migrans, a red expanding rash at the site of the tick bite. If left untreated, the infection can disseminate, causing more severe disease. In addition, patients may report persisting non-specific symptoms after treatment, a syndrome often referred to as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Although, in Belgium, different surveillance systems have been in place to follow-up LB trends since many years, knowledge gaps have remained. This thesis aims to contribute to the assessment of the burden of LB in Belgium, amongst others, by setting up a prospective cohort study. This work resulted in estimations of the incidence of the clinical manifestations of LB, the proportion of patients developing PTLDS and the costs related to the disease. In addition, the occurrence of other tick-borne infections in patients with a tick bite in Belgium was investigated.

%I Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) %C Brussels, Belgium %P 240 %8 12/2021 %G eng %0 Report %D 2021 %T TiquesNet 2020 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Mathias Leroy %A Tinne Lernout %K borréliose de Lyme %K carte de risque %K morsures de tiques %K prevention %K surveillance citoyenne %K tiques %I Sciensano %C Brussels, Belgium %P 12 %8 03/2021 %G eng %U https://tekennet.sciensano.be/reports/Final_Surveillance%20des%20morsures%20de%20tiques_TiquesNet%202020.pdf %M D/2021/14.440/25 %0 Journal Article %J Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases %D 2019 %T Combining primary care surveillance and a meta-analysis to estimate the incidence of the clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium, 2015–2017 %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Dieter Van Cauteren %A Brecht Devleesschauwer %A S Moreels %A Katrien Tersago %A Herman Van Oyen %A Speybroeck, Niko %A Tinne Lernout %K Belgium %K Clinical manifestations %K Erythema migrans %K incidence %K Lyme borreliosis %K systematic review %X

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is an important tick-borne disease which can cause a broad range of symptoms mainly affecting the skin, the nervous system and the joints. This study aims to estimate the incidence of the different clinical manifestations of LB in Belgium. The incidence of erythema migrans (EM) was estimated through the network of sentinel general practices at 97.6/100,000 inhabitants (uncertainty interval [UI] 82.0–113.0) for the period 2015–2017. This result was used to estimate the incidence of other LB manifestations based on their proportional distribution (ratios) to EM reported in the neighboring countries of Belgium. To estimate these ratios, we performed a systematic review of studies published between February 1, 2008 and January 31, 2018 and pooled the results using a random effects meta-analysis. Six studies were retained in the systematic review, and the meta-analysis estimated the occurrence ratios for Lyme neuroborreliosis/EM, Lyme arthritis/EM and other manifestations/EM at 0.024 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.016–0.037), 0.022 (95% CI 0.020–0.024) and 0.014 (95% CI 0.012–0.016) respectively. Applying these ratios to the EM incidence in Belgium resulted in an incidence estimation of 2.4/100,000 inhabitants (95% UI 1.5–3.7) for Lyme neuroborreliosis, 2.1/100,000 (95% UI 1.7–2.6) for Lyme arthritis and 1.4/100,000 (95% UI 1.1–1.7) for other less frequent manifestations. Some of these LB manifestations, other than EM, are more severe, hence these estimates are essential to assess the health burden and economic cost of LB which would be highly relevant for patients, healthcare providers and policymakers. As both over- and underestimation of different clinical LB manifestations remain possible due to characteristics of the primary surveillance systems and the disease itself, future studies to validate these estimates would be of great value.

%B Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases %V 10 %8 Jan-04-2019 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.12.007 %0 Journal Article %J Arch Public Health %D 2017 %T The HUMTICK study: protocol for a prospective cohort study on post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome and the disease and cost burden of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium. %A Geebelen, Laurence %A Tinne Lernout %A Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît %A Saegeman, Veroniek %A Sprong, Hein %A Steven Van Gucht %A Beutels, Philippe %A Speybroeck, Niko %A Katrien Tersago %X

BACKGROUND: In Belgium, different routine surveillance systems are in place to follow-up Lyme borreliosis trends. However, accurate data on the disease and monetary burden for the different clinical manifestations are lacking. Despite recommended antibiotic treatment, a proportion of Lyme patients report persisting aspecific symptoms for six months or more (e.g. fatigue, widespread musculoskeletal pain, cognitive difficulties), a syndrome now named "post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome" (PTLDS). Controversy exists on the cause, incidence and severity of PTLDS. This study aims to estimate the incidence of PTLDS in patients with Lyme borreliosis and to quantify the disease burden and economic costs associated with the different clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium.

METHODS: The project is a prospective cohort study in which about 600 patients with an erythema migrans and 100 patients with disseminated Lyme borreliosis will be followed up. Questionnaires, including the SF-36 vitality and pain subscale, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire and the EQ-5D-5L, will be used to collect information on acute and persisting symptoms and the impact on quality of life. Symptom frequency and severity will be compared with self-reported pre-Lyme health status, a control group and existing Belgian population norms. Additionally, information on the associated costs and possible risk factors for the development of PTLDS will be collected.

DISCUSSION: A study of the health burden will allow evaluation of the relative importance of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium and information on the economic cost will help to formulate cost-effective measures. There are only few prospective studies conducted estimating the incidence of PTLDS and even though discussion exists about the prevalence of subjective symptoms in the general population, a control group of non-Lyme borreliosis participants has often not been included.

%B Arch Public Health %V 75 %P 42 %8 2017 %G eng %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28794875?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1186/s13690-017-0202-z