Leptospirosis in South Africa

Saif, Adrienne; Frean, John; Rossouw, Jennifer; Trataris, Anastasia N.

doi:10.4102/ojvr.v79i2.478

Cited by 6 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The study has found that the apparent incidence of leptospirosis in the South African human population is moderately high based on the detected positives in suspected cases. The study also found that the communities in informal settlements in urban areas are at risk as infected rodent populations are a continuous source of transmission (Saif et al 2012). However this study could not establish which serovars were present.…”

Section: Leptospirosis In Humansmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…In South Africa, rodents were also reported to be the main risk factor of human leptospirosis. In a study published in 2012, it was found that communities in informal settlements in urban areas are at risk as infected rodent populations are a continuous source of transmission (Saif et al 2012). The apparent incidence of leptospirosis in the South African human population was also found to be moderately high (Saif et al 2012).…”

Section: Management Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a study published in 2012, it was found that communities in informal settlements in urban areas are at risk as infected rodent populations are a continuous source of transmission (Saif et al 2012). The apparent incidence of leptospirosis in the South African human population was also found to be moderately high (Saif et al 2012). The failure of this study to demonstrate the role of rodents in transmission of leptospiral serovars to South African horses was probably due to the lack of a good representative sample of horse-properties with rodents across each of the Provinces.…”

Section: Management Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A study of leptospirosis in South African horses and associated risk factors

Simbizi

Saulez²,

Potts

et al. 2016

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

between potential risk factors and both seropositive horses to the predominant serovar Bratislava and to Leptospira spp were statistically evaluated using univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression models.Adult horses admitted to each equine hospital and horses seen on ambulatory service for various purposes were included in the study. Severely-ill, chronically infected, and horses with underlying immunosuppressive conditions were excluded from sampling, to control for potential bias.A total of 663 horse sera were collected and tested against a panel of 24 leptospiral serovars using the microscopic agglutination test. The most predominant serovars in Gauteng were The apparent prevalence to one or more serovars of Leptospira spp at a serum dilution of 1:100 in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Provinces was 49%; 37% and 32% respectively. The true prevalence was calculated for each province taking into account the clustering effect during the sampling and was found to be between 24-74% in Gauteng; 26-39% in the Western Cape and 20-54% in KwaZulu-Natal.iv Nooitgedacht (South African horse breed) horses were found to be at greater risk of being seropositive to both serovar Bratislava (OR=5.08) and Leptospira spp (OR=6.3). Similarly, horses residing on properties with forestry in the vicinity were found to be at greater risk of being seropositive to both serovar Bratislava (OR=9.3) and Leptospira spp (OR=5.2). This study has shown that a high proportion of horses in South Africa are exposed to a wide range of serovars, inferring a complex epidemiology. It also describes for the first time new serovars of Leptospira in South African horses that have not previously been reported.v

show abstract

Section: Leptospirosis In Humansmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Management Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Management Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A study of leptospirosis in South African horses and associated risk factors

Simbizi

Saulez²,

Potts

et al. 2016

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The incidence of human leptospirosis in South Africa has been suggested to be moderately high within the population [21][22][23]. Findings about the continued circulation of highly pathogenic Leptospira spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence and distribution of human leptospirosis in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, (2010-2019): A retrospective study

Gizamba

Paul

Dlamini

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis of global importance. In South Africa, the infection is an underreported public health concern, with limited information on its incidence and distribution. This study aimed to determine the incidence of human leptospirosis from 2010 to 2019 in Western Cape Province (WPC), and to compare the incidence based on seasonal and demographic factors. Methods A retrospective study was conducted with data on leptospirosis diagnoses by sex, age, season, and year in WCP obtained from the National Health Laboratory Services. With the provincial population sizes as the denominator, the incidence of leptospirosis was estimated and expressed as cases per 100,000 population. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the effect of sex, season, and year on the incidence of leptospirosis. Results A total of 254 cases of leptospirosis were reported between 2010 and 2019, with the highest number of cases being in 2015. The annual incidence ranged between 0.15 and 0.66/100,000 population with a 10-year average incidence of 0.40/100,000 population. The incidence was higher among males than in females (0.55 vs. 0.25/ 100,000 population; incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.2, 95% CI: 1.66,3.03). The 18-44 age cohort and had the highest average incidence (0.56/100,000 population), while the less or equal to 17 age cohort had the lowest incidence (0.07/100,000 population). The 18-44 (IRR 8.0, 95% CI: 4.65,15.15) and the greater or equal to 45 (IRR 7.4, 95% CI: 4.17,14.17) age cohorts were more at risk of infection compared to the less or equal to 17 age cohort. The average incidence of the infection was similar among seasons and there was no significant association between season and incidence of leptospirosis. Conclusions The results highlight that leptospirosis is an important zoonosis within the province disproportionately affecting males and the productive age demographic groups. These findings should enhance targeted prevention and provoke further investigation on the importance of environmental and socioeconomic factors on leptospirosis burden.

show abstract

“…Weak diagnostic capacity and notification systems appear to contribute to a lack of accurate health surveillance data in many developing countries (Pappas et al., ). Indeed, a review of the literature returns just a handful of sporadic case reports, outbreaks and serosurveys of human leptospirosis from countries across the African continent (Mailloux et al., ; Sankale et al., ; Cacciapuoti et al., ; Turner and Willcox, ; Pinn, ; Onyemelukwe, ; Collares‐Pereira et al., ; Bertherat et al., ; WHO, ; Schoonman and Swai, ; Saif et al., ). Outside of a single case of leptospirosis reported in a cow ( L. interrogans serovar Pomona) in eastern Botswana over a quarter of a century ago (Herr and Winnen, ), there is no information regarding the occurrence of this important zoonotic pathogen in the country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leptospira interrogans at the Human–Wildlife Interface in Northern Botswana: A Newly Identified Public Health Threat

Jobbins

Sanderson

Alexander

2013

Zoonoses and Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world. In northern Botswana, humans live in close proximity to a diversity of wildlife and peridomestic rodents and may be exposed to a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Little is known regarding the occurrence and epidemiology of L. interrogans in Africa despite the recognized global importance of this zoonotic disease and the threat it poses to public health. In Botswana, banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) live in close proximity to humans across protected and unprotected landscapes and may be a useful sentinel species for assessing the occurrence of zoonotic organisms, such as L. interrogans. We utilized PCR to screen banded mongoose kidneys for leptospiral DNA and identified 41.5% prevalence of renal carriage of L. interrogans (exact binomial 95% CI 27.7-56.7%, n = 41). Renal carriage was also detected in one Selous' mongoose (Paracynictis selousi). This is the first published confirmation of carriage of L. interrogans in either species. This is also the first report of L. interrogans occurrence in northern Botswana and the only report of this organism in a wildlife host in the country. Pathogenic Leptospira are usually transmitted indirectly to humans through soil or water contaminated with infected urine. Other avenues, such as direct contact between humans and wildlife, as well as consumption of mongooses and other wildlife as bushmeat, may pose additional exposure risk and must be considered in public health management of this newly identified zoonotic disease threat. There is a critical need to characterize host species involvement and pathogen transmission dynamics, including human-wildlife interactions that may increase human exposure potential and infection risk. We recommend that public health strategy be modified to include sensitization of medical practitioners to the presence of L. interrogans in the region, the potential for human infection, and implementation of clinical screening. This study illustrates the need for increased focus on neglected zoonotic diseases as they present an important threat to public health.

show abstract

Leptospirosis in South Africa

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

A study of leptospirosis in South African horses and associated risk factors

A study of leptospirosis in South African horses and associated risk factors

Incidence and distribution of human leptospirosis in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, (2010-2019): A retrospective study

Leptospira interrogans at the Human–Wildlife Interface in Northern Botswana: A Newly Identified Public Health Threat

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About