title: Human leptospirosis: a twenty-nine-year serological study in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: A retrospective study of 9,335 cases of human leptospirosis in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, diagnosed between 1969 and 1997 showed that the disease is endemic throughout the state. Middle-aged adults, with a range of 20-39 years, were most frequently infected (32.40%). The mean annual incidence was 0.53 per 100,000 population and the disease was more frequent in males (87.0%). Cases occurred mainly in January to April each year. A peak was observed in 1991 and 1996 which rainfall average was 159.9 and 160.3, respectively. These data emphasize the potential public health importance of leptospirosis in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Adolfo Lutz Institute, Department of Medical Biology, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351/9 andar, 01246-902 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. eliete_romero@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Eliete Caló
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Carla Cristiane da Motta
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.forename: Paulo H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yasuda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies