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Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in human groups at risk due to environmental, labor or social conditions.
Abstract: Leptospirosis is important in Uruguay due to the economic loss caused by the diseases of production animals, mainly bovines, and also due to frequent human infection. We decided to study anti-Leptospira antibodies in the sera of dairy workers, rice laborers, veterinarians, suburban slum dwellers and garbage recyclers. Our aims were to estimate the seroprevalence of infection by Leptospira spp. in these people at risk, the relative importance of the known risk factors associated with infection, and the impact of human infections in each setting. Groups at risk were identified and 35 visits to their locations were made, conducting field surveys and exchange talks for information and education. Simple epidemiological questionnaires were administered and sera samples were taken from 308 persons. The microagglutination Technique (MAT) and the IgM Indirect Immunofluorescence (IIF) assay were employed to detect antibodies. Environmental water samples, canine and equine sera were also examined. More than 45% of human sera were reactive and the studied groups were confirmed to be widely exposed to infection. Female sera were frequently reactive, though most illnesses occur in men, and the most severe cases in elderly males; the emergence and evolution of the disease may strongly depend on the host condition and functions. Animal contact and unsafe water usage were the main identified risk factors to be considered in prevention. Fifty per cent of the studied horses showed a positive MAT reaction. The underdiagnosis of the illness and its long-term symptoms require further study, as well as greater health and social attention efforts.
Copyright © 2019 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-04-09 PubMed ID: 30979517DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2019.01.005Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Antibodies
- Disease
- Economics
- Environmental Stressors
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Field Study
- Human Health
- Immunofluorescence Assay
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Leptospira
- Microscopic Agglutination Test
- Public Health
- Risk Factors
- Serological Surveys
- Seroprevalence
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Science
- Zoonotic Diseases
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article reports on a study in Uruguay to measure the prevalence of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease, among risk groups like dairy workers, veterinarians, and people living in suburban slums. The study analyses the seroprevalence of infection, different risk factors associated with the disease, and the influence of leptospirosis in these environments.
Objective and Methodology
- The primary objective of the researchers was to estimate the seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum) of leptospirosis among high-risk groups, understand the associated risk factors, and evaluate the impact of the disease in each group.
- To achieve this, the group identified the high-risk groups, conducted field surveys, and took blood serum samples from 308 individuals.
- Two techniques, the Microagglutination Technique (MAT) and the IgM Indirect Immunofluorescence (IIF) assay, were used to detect antibodies related to leptospirosis in the collected samples.
- Environmental water samples, canine, and equine sera were also examined for traces of the disease.
Findings
- The research found that over 45% of the tested human sera were reactive, meaning the individuals had been exposed to the infection. This confirmed the wide exposure of leptospirosis among the studied groups.
- Unexpectedly, female sera were frequently reactive despite the disease being more commonly seen in men, particularly older males. The researchers suggest that the emergence and progression of the disease may strongly depend on the host’s condition and functions rather than on gender alone.
- Major identified risk factors included contact with animals and unsafe water usage, which should be considered in prevention strategies.
- In addition, 50% of the tested horses showed a positive MAT reaction, suggesting that animals can also be significant carriers of the disease.
Implications and Recommendations
- The findings reveal a notable underdiagnosis of leptospirosis and its long-term symptoms. This suggests a need for further study and increased health and social attention towards the disease.
- The identification of contact with animals and unsafe water usage as main risk factors indicates areas where preventative measures and public health messages can focus.
Cite This Article
APA
Meny P, Menéndez C, Ashfield N, Quintero J, Rios C, Iglesias T, Schelotto F, Varela G.
(2019).
Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in human groups at risk due to environmental, labor or social conditions.
Rev Argent Microbiol, 51(4), 324-333.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ram.2019.01.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Institute of Hygiene, Medicine Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Institute of Hygiene, Medicine Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Institute of Hygiene, Medicine Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Institute of Hygiene, Medicine Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
- Veterinary Public Health area, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Institute of Hygiene, Medicine Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Institute of Hygiene, Medicine Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Electronic address: felipe@higiene.edu.uy.
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Institute of Hygiene, Medicine Faculty, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
- Female
- Humans
- Leptospira / immunology
- Leptospirosis / blood
- Leptospirosis / epidemiology
- Leptospirosis / etiology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
- Risk Factors
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Social Conditions
- Uruguay / epidemiology
- Young Adult
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Le Turnier P, Oberlis M, Lavergne A, Epelboin L, Picardeau M. Leptospirosis seroprevalence and exposure factors in three informal settlements of French Guiana: An opportunistic survey. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2025 Nov;19(11):e0013764.
- Nisa S, Ortolani E, Vallée E, Marshall J, Collins-Emerson J, Yeung P, Prinsen G, Wright J, Quin T, Fayaz A, Littlejohn S, Baker MG, Douwes J, Benschop J. Case-control study of leptospirosis in Aotearoa New Zealand reveals behavioural, occupational, and environmental risk factors. Epidemiol Infect 2025 Jun 2;153:e67.
- Antoniolli A, Guis H, Picardeau M, Goarant C, Flamand C. One Health Field Approach Applied to Leptospirosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Across Humans, Animals and the Environment. Open Forum Infect Dis 2025 Jan;12(1):ofae757.
- Sayanthi Y, Susanna D. Pathogenic Leptospira contamination in the environment: a systematic review. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2024;14(1):2324820.
- Baharom M, Ahmad N, Hod R, Ja'afar MH, Arsad FS, Tangang F, Ismail R, Mohamed N, Mohd Radi MF, Osman Y. Environmental and Occupational Factors Associated with Leptospirosis: A Systematic Review. Heliyon 2024 Jan 15;10(1):e23473.
- Zida S, Kania D, Bolloré K, Bandaogo O, Pisoni A, Dicko A, Tinto B, Traoré J, Van de Perre P, Ouédraogo HG, Tuaillon E. Leptospirosis Cases among Outpatients with Non-Malaria Fever Attending Primary Care Clinics during the Rainy Season in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024 Jan 3;110(1):127-132.
- Romanowski TNA, Dias RA, Heinemann MB, Carvalho SF, Silva TA, Martins ADS, Caetano GDDC, Ferreira Júnior Á, Santos JPD, Borsanelli AC. Seroprevalence of Equine Leptospirosis in the State of Goiás, Brazil. Vet Sci 2023 Sep 25;10(10).
- Browne ES, Pereira M, Barreto A, Zeppelini CG, de Oliveira D, Costa F. Prevalence of human leptospirosis in the Americas: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2023;47:e126.
- Sohn-Hausner N, Kmetiuk LB, Biondo AW. One Health Approach to Leptospirosis: Human-Dog Seroprevalence Associated to Socioeconomic and Environmental Risk Factors in Brazil over a 20-Year Period (2001-2020). Trop Med Infect Dis 2023 Jul 7;8(7).
- Motto SK, Hernandez-Castro LE, Shirima GM, Mengele IJ, Bwatota SF, Bronsvoort BMC, Lyatuu ET, Komwihangilo DM, Cook EAJ. Seroepidemiology of Leptospira serovar Hardjo and associated risk factors in smallholder dairy cattle in Tanzania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023 Apr;17(4):e0011199.
- Cunha GRD, Pellizzaro M, Martins CM, Rocha SM, Yamakawa AC, da Silva EC, Dos Santos AP, Morikawa VM, Langoni H, Biondo AW. Serological survey of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in individuals with animal hoarding disorder and their dogs in a major city of Southern Brazil. Vet Med Sci 2022 Mar;8(2):530-536.
- Schmidt E, Obiegala A, Imholt C, Drewes S, Saathoff M, Freise J, Runge M, Jacob J, Mayer-Scholl A, Ulrich RG, Pfeffer M. Influence of Season, Population and Individual Characteristics on the Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in Bank Voles in North-West Germany. Biology (Basel) 2021 Sep 18;10(9).
- Sooklert K, Boonwong C, Ekpo P, Rojanathanes R, Patarakul K, Chirathaworn C, Thamakaison S, Sereemaspun A. Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on the TLR2-Mediated Inflammatory Responses Induced by Leptospira in TLR2-Overexpressed HEK293 Cells. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2020 Dec 16;10(12).
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