Leptospirosis in a subsistence farming community in Brazil.
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.
Lacerda
Hênio G
HG
Department of Infectious Diseases, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, CP 1624, Natal, RN, 59078-970, Brazil.
Monteiro
Gloria R
GR
Oliveira
Carlos C G
CC
Suassuna
Fernando B
FB
Queiroz
Jose W
JW
Barbosa
James D A
JD
Martins
Daniella R
DR
Reis
Mitemayer G
MG
Ko
Albert I
AI
Jeronimo
Selma M B
SM
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
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D007075:Immunoglobulin M