Leptospirosis following a flood in the Veneto area, North-east Italy.
In August 2002, an exceptional flood devastated a suburban area in the surroundings of Vicenza, North-east Italy. A fatal case of haemorrhagic pneumonia, which was presumptively diagnosed as leptospirosis, was observed as a consequence of the inundation. A local seroepidemiological survey was activated thereafter, with the principal aim of evaluating the risk of infection with Leptospirae in the population exposed to the flood. A 6.8% seroconversion rate was found in the population studied; however, the case previously observed remained unique, since an overt outbreak of leptospirosis did not occur.
Pellizzer
P
P
Unità Operativa di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Ospedale San Bortolo, Vicenza.
Todescato
A
A
Benedetti
P
P
Colussi
P
P
Conz
P
P
Cinco
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004190:Disasters; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007075:Immunoglobulin M