title: Leptospira Exposure and Waste Pickers: A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study in Durango, Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infection with Leptospira may occur by contact with Leptospira-infected animals. Waste pickers are in contact with rodents and dogs while picking in the garbage. Whether waste pickers are at risk for Leptospira infection is largely unknown. This study was aimed to determine the association of Leptospira IgG seroprevalence with the occupation of waste picking, and to determine the epidemiological characteristics of the waste pickers with Leptospira exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a case-control study, we determined the seroprevalence of anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies in 90 waste pickers and 90 age- and gender-matched control subjects in Durango City, Mexico using an enzyme immunoassay. Data were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies was similar in waste pickers (4/90: 4.4%) to that in control subjects (5/90: 5.6%) (P = 1.00). Bivariate analysis showed that Leptospira exposure in waste pickers was associated with increasing age (P = 0.009), no education (P = 0.008), and consumption of rat meat (P = 0.04). However, these associations were no longer found by multivariate analysis. Leptospira exposure in waste pickers was not associated with health status, duration in the activity, wearing hand gloves and facemasks, history of injuries with sharp material of the garbage, or contact with animals or soil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study about Leptospira exposure in waste pickers. Results suggest that waste pickers are not at increasing risk for Leptospira exposure in Durango City, Mexico. Further research with a larger sample size to elucidate the association of Leptospira exposure with waste picking activity is needed.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarado-Esquivel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Tinoco
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis Francisco
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Anguiano
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Agar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos-Nevarez
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sandra Margarita
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cerrillo-Soto
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guido-Arreola
keywords: Epidemiology; Leptospira; Mexico; Seroprevalence; Waste pickers