Table 3 Univariate association between characteristics of foresters and the presence anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies in 310 forest workers (Wallonia, Belgium)

Age

50 years or more

3.89

2.14–7.08

< 0.001

Less than 50 years

1

–

–

Duration of employment in silvicultural field

More than 20 years

3.74

2.04–6.85

< 0.001

Up to 20 years

1

–

–

Frequency of forest visits

3 times per week or more

11.11

1.49–82.64

0.003

Less than 3 times per week

1

–

–

Mean duration of forest visits

1 day

1.64

0.89–3.02

0.11

Less than 1 day

1

–

–

Use of protective measures

+

1.14

0.65–1.98

0.64

-

1

–

–

Use of protective clothes

+

1.20

0.70–2.07

0.50

-

1

–

–

Use of repellents

+

1.73

0.94–3.18

0.08

-

1

–

–

Tick bites during work

+

4.34

0.56–33.48

0.12

-

1

–

–

Number of tick bites

More than 100

5.94

3.24–10.90

< 0.001

Less than 100

1

–

–

Frequency of tick bites

1 per month or more

2.90

1.60–5.25

< 0.001

Less than 1 per month

1

–

–

Use of tick tweezer to remove tick

+

0.63

0.36–1.12

0.11

-

1

–

–

Use of tweezer to remove tick

+

0.86

0.39–1.89

0.71

-

1

–

–

Use of fingers to remove tick

+

2.62

1.29–5.37

0.006

-

1

–

–

Knowing the cause of Lyme borreliosis

+

0.91

0.50–1.65

0.75

-

1

–

–