title: Retrospective Study of Leptospirosis in Malaysia.
abstract: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmitted to humans and animals by direct or indirect contact with urine or body fluids from infected animals especially rodents. Infection can be associated with wide clinical spectrum varying from asymptomatic to severe multi-organ syndrome with life-threatening consequences. We conducted a review of published studies on incidences, case reports, sero-epidemiological surveys from year 2000 to 2015 using different electronic data bases. Our study revealed that majority of the studies were conducted in Peninsular Malaysia and predominantly among high-risk human groups. Most of the studies on domestic animals were conducted in the 1980s; hence, the current status of leptospirosis among domestic animal population remains largely unknown. There tend to be a sharp rise in incidence rate among human population in the year 2014 which was attributed to flooding and heavy rainfall experienced as well as recreational activities. Several gaps in epidemiological knowledge were also disclosed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Bashiru
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garba
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. rani@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Abdul Rani
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bahaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khairani-Bejo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zunita
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Laboratory Services Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Rahim
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mutalib
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007919:Leptospira / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D008296:Malaysia; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Malaysia; emerging zoonoses; leptospirosis; retrospective study