Prevalence of and risk factors for serum antibodies against Leptospira serovars in US veterinarians.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Leptospira serovars among veterinarians and identify risk factors for seropositivity in veterinary care settings.


METHODS
Seroepidemiologic survey.


METHODS
Veterinarians attending the 2006 AVMA Annual Convention.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 511 veterinarians, and serum was harvested for a microcapsule agglutination test (MAT) to detect antibodies against 6 serovars of Leptospira. Aggregate data analysis was performed to determine the ratio of the odds of a given exposure (eg, types of animals treated or biosafety practices) in seropositive individuals to the odds in seronegative individuals.


RESULTS
Evidence of previous leptospiral infection was detected in 2.5% of veterinarians. Most veterinarians reported multiple potential exposures to Leptospira spp and other pathogens in the previous 12 months, including unintentional needlestick injuries (379/511 [74.2%]), animal bites (345/511 [67.5%]), and animal scratches (451/511 [88.3%]). Treatment of a dog with an influenza-like illness within the past year was associated with seropositivity for antibodies against Leptospira spp.


CONCLUSIONS
Veterinarians are at risk for leptospirosis and should take measures to decrease potential exposure to infectious agents in general. Diagnostic tests for leptospirosis should be considered when veterinarians have febrile illnesses of unknown origin.
Whitney
Ellen A Spotts
EA
Center for Public Health Preparedness and Research and the Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Ailes
Elizabeth
E
Myers
Lee M
LM
Saliki
Jeremiah T
JT
Berkelman
Ruth L
RL