Leptospirosis in Takeo Province, Kingdom of Cambodia, 2003.
BACKGROUND
In Cambodia, epidemiology and disease burden of leptospirosis were not addressed as they do not have an existing surveillance system and have limitations on their laboratory diagnosis.


OBJECTIVE
Define the existence of leptospirosis and determine the antibodies to serovars of leptospires in Cambodia.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-one suspected cases of leptospirosis were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, between September 8 and November 30, 2003 from Takeo Provincial Hospital in Doun Keo District, Cambodia.


RESULTS
Common clinical manifestations were fever (96%), headache (92%), and myalgia (87%). Common risk behaviors were throwing garbage on the ground (84%), pulling out sprouts (77%), fertilizing (49%), and plowing (47%). Microscopic agglutination test result confirmed four cases and polymerase chain reaction test result confirmed seven cases. Two cases each showed antibodies to serovars Javanica and Australis. An estimated annual incidence of leptospirosis in Takeo province was 7.65 per 100,000 populations. Further studies to define epidemiology and burden of disease are needed.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing awareness and knowledge on leptospirosis among people are necessary to decrease the impact of leptospirosis in Cambodia.
Seng
Heng
H
International Field Epidemiology Training Program, Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.
Sok
Touch
T
Tangkanakul
Waraluk
W
Petkanchanapong
Wimol
W
Kositanont
Uraiwan
U
Sareth
Hem
H
Hor
Bunleng
B
Jiraphongsa
Chuleeporn
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000906:Antibodies