Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39325354›Full record

Observational studyInfection2025

Borrelia burgdorferi infections in children and adolescents in Switzerland - a seroprevalence study 2023/2024 (BOBUINCA).

Laura Heeb, Nora Fritschi, Andrea Marten, Tatjana Welzel, Nicole Ritz, Ulrich Heininger

Registry-linked trialAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Infection, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05856812 (BOrrelia BUrgdorferi IN Children and Adolescents- a Seroprevalence Study), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05856812 completednot on this map

BOrrelia BUrgdorferi IN Children and Adolescents- a Seroprevalence Study

TypeobservationalSponsorUniversity Children's Hospital BaselRan2023 to 2024Enrolled962ConditionsB. Burgdorferi Infection
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Repeated cross-sectional surveys show a decreasing trend inEuro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Laura Heeb *Infectious Disease and Vaccinology Unit, University Children's Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 33, Basel, CH-4031, Switzerland.
Nora Fritschi *Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4085-5276
Andrea MartenInfectious Disease and Vaccinology Unit, University Children's Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 33, Basel, CH-4031, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3853-1276
Tatjana WelzelPediatric Rheumatology, University Children's Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1800-0327
Nicole RitzInfectious Disease and Vaccinology Unit, University Children's Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 33, Basel, CH-4031, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1498-1685
Ulrich HeiningerInfectious Disease and Vaccinology Unit, University Children's Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 33, Basel, CH-4031, Switzerland. ulrich.heininger@ukbb.ch.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8901-6778

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLyme borreliosis is one of the most prevalent tick-borne diseases in Europe. Studies on seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi IgG antibodies in children are rare. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi IgG antibodies in children and adolescents residing in North-Western Switzerland and neighbouring countries.

methodsProspective cross-sectional observational single-centre study using left-over plasma of asymptomatic paediatric patients. Included were children aged 1-17 years living in North-Western Switzerland and bordering areas of France and Germany. Excluded were children with symptoms of Lyme borreliosis or a chronic disease possibly affecting plasma antibodies (immunodeficiency syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus) or with such medication (e.g., intravenous immunoglobuline treatment, allogenic stem cell transplantation, immunosuppressive treatment) as well as refugees seeking asylum. IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi were measured by ELISA and positive or borderline results by line blot. Positivity was defined as scenario 1: ELISA positive/line blot positive or borderline OR ELISA borderline/line blot positive. Scenario 2: ELISA positive or borderline/line blot positive. A multivariable logistic regression model for seropositivity was applied.

results962 children were included (mean age 9.63 years, standard deviation 5.01, 54.5% males). Seroprevalence for scenario 1 was 13.3% (95% CI: 11.2-15.6) and for scenario 2 11.2% (95% CI: 9.3-13.4). Seroprevalence (scenario 1) was comparable for age groups, sex and rural versus urban residence.

conclusionThis study shows an increased seroprevalence for B. burgdorferi in the paediatric age compared to previous childhood studies. We also found an increased risk for B. burgdorferi infection at young age.

Indexed as

Antibodies, BacterialBorrelia burgdorferiLyme DiseaseAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin GInfantMaleProspective StudiesSeroepidemiologic StudiesSwitzerlandAntibodies, BacterialImmunoglobulin GLyme borreliosisPaediatricSeroprevalenceSwitzerlandTick

Identifiers

PMID39325354
PMCPMC12137484

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.