title: Study on Seroprevalence and Leptospiral Antibody Distribution among High-risk Planters in Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the leptospirosis seroprevalence and to identify the predominant infecting serovars among oil palm plantation workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study involved 350 asymptomatic oil palm plantation workers in Melaka and Johor. A serological test using the microscopic agglutination test was conducted in the Institute of Medical Research with a cut-off titre for seropositivity of ≥1:100.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies was 28.6%. The job category with the highest seroprevalence was the fruit collector with 59.2%. The predominant serovar identified was serovar Sarawak (Lepto 175) (62%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies was detected among oil palm plantation workers and specifically among fruit collectors. The predominant infecting serovar among the workers was serovar Sarawak (Lepto 175). The findings suggest that more studies are needed to determine the reasons for the high seroprevalence and the transmission and pathogenicity of the local serovar Sarawak (Lepto 175).
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: J Mohd
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ridzuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Aziah
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zahiruddin
keywords: leptospiral antibody; leptospirosis; microscopic agglutination test; oil palm plantation workers; seroprevalence