title: Leptospirosis in Ireland: annual incidence and exposures associated with infection.
abstract: Human leptospirosis is found throughout the world, albeit with a higher incidence in tropical regions. In temperate regions it is associated with certain occupational and recreational activities. This paper reports both on the incidence of human leptospirosis in Ireland and on possible associated exposures, using leptospirosis case notification, enhanced surveillance, hospital discharge data and death registrations. Based on official notification data, there was a threefold increase in the reported incidence of leptospirosis in Ireland between 1995-1999 and 2004-2009, which appears partially to be due to improved reporting. The exposures most associated with infection were those involving contact with livestock or water-based recreational sports, in particular kayaking. Advice on prevention should continue to be targeted in the first instance at these groups. The variety of potential transmission routes reported should inform clinicians to consider leptospirosis in individuals with a compatible clinical profile who were not from occupational groups historically considered at risk.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HSE, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.affiliation: National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HSE, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Flanagan
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HSE, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKeown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011998:Recreation
references.citation: Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Sep 1;39(5):751-3
references.pmid: 15356794
references.citation: Eur J Epidemiol. 2000 Jan;16(1):79-86
references.pmid: 10780347
references.citation: Epidemiol Infect. 2004 Apr;132(2):195-200
references.pmid: 15061493
references.citation: J Med Virol. 2003 Sep;71(1):105-9
references.pmid: 12858415
references.citation: Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev. 1997 Nov 14;7(12):R185-9
references.pmid: 9394061
references.citation: Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol. 2005 Feb;54(1):21-6
references.pmid: 15807384
references.citation: Scand J Infect Dis. 2003;35(11-12):869-72
references.pmid: 14723364
references.citation: J Med Virol. 1994 May;43(1):33-8
references.pmid: 7916033
references.citation: Epidemiol Infect. 2002 Feb;128(1):29-36
references.pmid: 11895088
references.citation: Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1998 May 30;142(22):1270-3
references.pmid: 9749300
references.citation: Scand J Infect Dis. 2000;32(5):533-8
references.pmid: 11055660
references.citation: Emerg Infect Dis. 2001 Nov-Dec;7(6):990-2
references.pmid: 11747726
references.citation: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1998 Aug 21;47(32):673-6
references.pmid: 9729034
references.citation: Emerg Infect Dis. 2005 Jul;11(7):1048-54
references.pmid: 16022779
references.citation: Ir Med J. 2000 Jun;93(4):114-7
references.pmid: 11037571
references.citation: Euro Surveill. 2013 Jan 03;18(1):4-7
references.pmid: 23305714
references.citation: Euro Surveill. 2013 Feb 28;18(9):
references.pmid: 23470018
references.citation: Epidemiol Infect. 1996 Oct;117(2):361-5
references.pmid: 8870634
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2002 Jan;66(1):61-70
references.pmid: 12135270
references.citation: Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Jun;9(6):702-7
references.pmid: 12781010