Leptospirosis in a subsistence farming community in Brazil

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• 作者：Hê ; nio G. Lacerda ; Gloria R. Monteiro ; Carlos C.G. Oliveira ; Fern ; o B. Suassuna ; Jose W. Queiroz ; James D.A. Barbosa ; Daniella R. Martins ; Mitemayer G. Reis ; Albert I. Ko ; Selma M.B. Jeronimo
• 关键词：Leptospirosis ; Disease outbreaks ; Surveillance ; Prevalence ; Rural population ; Brazil
• 刊名：Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• 出版年：2008
• 出版时间：December 2008
• 年：2008
• 卷：102
• 期：12
• 页码：1233-1238
• 全文大小：241 K

文摘

Summary

Leptospirosis has been reported in rural areas of Brazil. However, there is limited information about the exposure risk or the risk of Leptospira infection for rural-based populations. A cross-sectional study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence and risk factors for prior Leptospira infection in a rural subsistence farming region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, an area in which outbreaks of leptospirosis have occurred. Among 290 individuals enrolled, 44 (15.2 % ) had anti-Leptospira IgM antibodies as determined by IgM ELISA. Infection tended to occur with activities related to the rice fields (P = 0.08). Our findings indicate that Leptospira infection occurs even in years of low rainfall, and may have an important impact among poor rural-based subsistence farmers in Brazil. Additional studies are needed to characterize the mode of transmission in this region.