title: New trends in human and animal leptospirosis in Croatia, 2009-2014.
abstract: Leptospirosis is a geographically widespread and globally underestimated zoonosis that affects humans and variety of animals. To identify trends and possible risk factors, joined medical and veterinary teams investigated epidemiology and epizootiology of leptospirosis in Croatia. Retrospective analysis of data obtained from referent diagnostic laboratories included a total of 1917 human and 123964 animal sera tested in the period from 2009 to 2014. We found high human leptospirosis average incidence rate of 1.53/100000 with clear predominance of male patients older than 40 years (sex ratio M/F:3.2; median age 51±15.1years). Statistical analysis revealed seasonal and annual variations of incidence in humans that were primarily associated with favourable weather conditions (temperature 10-19, 9°C and precipitation above 100mm/m2). Majority of infections in humans were caused by serogroups Sejroe, Australis and Icterohaemorrhagiae. Notable variations in seroprevalence and changing trends in prevailing serogroups were recorded in most of the domestic animals and during the entire period of investigation. All of the observed findings underline leptospirosis as a significant human and veterinary public health threat and emphasize the importance of continuous multidisciplinary surveillance. We also argue that only input from both professions improves our overall knowledge on leptospirosis and leads to better and more efficient prevention and control strategies.
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis (NRL), Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: jhabus@vef.hr.
authors.forename: Josipa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Habus
authors.affiliation: Croatian National Reference Laboratory for Human Leptospirosis, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Rockfellerova 7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Persic
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Bacterial Zoonosis and Molecular Diagnostics of Bacterial Diseases, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spicic
authors.affiliation: Reproduction and Obstetric Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Silvijo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vince
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis (NRL), Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zrinka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stritof
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis (NRL), Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Milas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Bacterial Zoonosis and Molecular Diagnostics of Bacterial Diseases, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cvetnic
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis (NRL), Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Matko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perharic
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis (NRL), Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065288:Serogroup; D012756:Sheep / Q000382:microbiology; D014887:Weather; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Laboratory surveillance; Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Seroprevalence; Zoonoses