Seroprevalence of Leptospirosis among Army Personnel in Northeastern Malaysia

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira. The disease affects various high-risk groups including army personnel, who are at risk because of field activities that bring them into close contact with zoonotic reservoirs. This cross-sectional study determined the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among 616 asymptomatic army personnel in Northeastern Malaysia. Sociodemographic data were obtained using validated questionnaires. Serological screening for leptospirosis was performed using an ELISA method and confirmed by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Samples indeterminate and positive according to ELISA (n = 117) were sent for MAT testing. A MAT titer ≥ 100 was considered positive evidence of exposure to leptospirosis. The overall seroprevalence of leptospirosis among the subjects was 16.2% (95% confidence interval: 13.32, 19.15). The most common reaction obtained with the sera tested by MAT was against a strain of Leptospira spp. isolated from Terengganu (38.3%) followed by L. biflexa serovar Patoc (35.2%). In conclusion, the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among army personnel in Northeastern Malaysia is high.

Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in a Mexican military population working with animals

“…In this study, seroprevalence was revealed to be greater than that described in other military populations, such as the US military with 4% [10], 16.2% in Malaysia [8], and 8% in Nepal [11], although these studies do not state if their population was working directly with animals. We can compare these results to those of another Mexican population working directly with animals or animal‐related products.…”

“…The result differs from that reported in another study of militaries in Malaysia, where officials were less affected by Leptospira spp. [8]. The explanation is that this study is focused on a military population that worked in close contact with animals, where the highest rankings are held by veterinarians, and one of their duties is prevention and prophylaxis of livestock diseases and other animals used in the army; thus, they represent the most vulnerable group of this zoonotic disease.…”

“…Currently, the military population is viewed as highly vulnerable to this illness due to the execution of operations and activities that bring them in direct contact with reservoirs or, in fact, expose them to diverse conditions that increase the risk of infection, such as the deployment of troops in the case of severe flooding. There has been reported seroprevalence in American, Korean, and Malaysian military populations of 11.6%, 10.1%, and 16.2%, respectively [7][8][9].…”