Lyme borreliosis in Scotland during two peak periods

The  epidemiology  of  Lyme  borreliosis  (LB)  and  climatic  conditions  in Scotland were studied. Questionnaire data from all new seropositive patients from July  to  September  2007  and  2008  were  examined  along  with  demographic  data from  seropositive  patients,  rainfall  and  temperature  data  for  these  years. There were  significantly  more  samples,  seropositive  patients  and  seropositive  patients per  patients  tested  in  July  to  September  2008  than  2007. The  average  annual incidence  rate  for  2007  and  2008  was  estimated  at  5.9/100,000  population  for Scotland and 43.4/100,000 population for the Highlands of Scotland, increasing to 10.6  and  81.0/100,000  population  respectively  for  the  peak  months  July  to September.  January  to April  2008  was  significantly  wetter  and  May  to  July  2008 significantly drier than in 2007. The number of cases of LB in Scotland is increasing annually  as  a  result  of  many  different  factors  including  increased  awareness, improved  laboratory  techniques  and  a  complex  relationship  between  climatic factors, tick behaviour and human behaviour.