title: Leptospirosis in a subsistence farming community in Brazil.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, CP 1624, Natal, RN, 59078-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hênio G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Gloria R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Carlos C G
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Fernando B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Suassuna
authors.forename: Jose W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: James D A
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Daniella R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Mitemayer G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Albert I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Selma M B
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jeronimo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D007075:Immunoglobulin M