Risk factors and the prevalence of leptospirosis infection in a rural community of Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mapastepec, a rural community of the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico. The overall prevalence of leptospirosis infection in 1169 subjects was 37.7% [95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 34.9-40.5]. The main risk factors related to leptospirosis infection were flooding, mainly if subjects had a skin cut or abrasion [odds ratio (OR) 4.2; 95% CI 3.1-5.7], having domestic animals, either dogs and/or cats (OR 1.3; 95% CI 0.96-1.8) or cattle and/or pigs (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.3-2.7), contact with animal excreta with no protection and with a skin cut or abrasion (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.1-4.6). Those subjects with a dengue infection in the previous year had also an excess risk (OR 1.4; 95% CI 0.9-2.0). Mapastepec is a previously unknown area with high endemicity. Specific preventive measures should be adopted to prevent any contact with infected animals, and animal immunization should also be implemented. There is need of an epidemiological surveillance system to allow proper diagnosis.

Seroprevalence and factors associated with Leptospira infection in an urban district of Cali, Colombia

“…However, of note, we could have selected more females than males given the design of our study. Unlike our study, predominance of seroprevalence in men over women has been reported in several seroepidemiological studies in Colombia and elsewhere 7,9,10,18,19,21,40,41 , and most of the laboratoryconfirmed clinical cases of leptospirosis have been reported to occur in men 4,11,42,43,44,45,46,47 . Single marital status was associated with lower odds of Leptospira seropositivity (aOR = 0.28; 95%CI: 0.12-0.69; p = 0.007).…”

“…Walking barefoot indoors or outdoors was not significantly associated with the presence of leptospiral antibodies in the study by Ferro et al 9 , but it has been reported as a risk factor elsewhere 20,40,41 . Interestingly, one study from Rural Durango, Mexico found that Leptospira exposure was positively associated with history of domestic travel in the general population 19 .…”

“…However, measurement errors regarding risk exposures and residual confounding are a possibility. Conversely, skin cuts and abrasions during flooding have been reported elsewhere as a risk factor 40 .…”

Fatal Leptospirosis Case in Pediatric Patient: Clinical Case

“…In Mexico, leptospirosis incidence is not exactly known because there is not existing a specific surveillance system and only some cases reported in some entities of the country are considered. However, studies performed in different populations with different techniques report prevalence that go from 10% up to 63% in the affected population [3][4][5][6].…”

Leptospirosis as a Cause of Fever in Urban Bangladesh

“…[1][2][3] Human infection results from exposure to pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, often by skin contact with contaminated water or soil. 4,5 In low-income urban neighborhoods, rats are important carrier mammals and excrete the organism in urine. [6][7][8] Conditions of poor sanitation, flash flooding, and overcrowding may facilitate transmission of the disease.…”