The problem of human leptospirosis in Barbados
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Abstract:
The results of a retrospective study of human leptospirosis cases occurring in Barbados during the period 19-68-74, and of serological findings among high risk occupational groups, fever cases and health centre patients monitored for the disease during 1975-77, indicate that infection by serotype fort-bragg of the Autumnalis group is widespread in this Caribbean island. The occupational groups most affected are sanitation workers and sugar-cane workers. Results of serological tests conducted at the principle hospital are comparable with the results obtained by the microscopic agglutination reference test procedure conducted at the Pan American Zoonosis Centre (CEPANZO).Keywords:
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Direct agglutination test
Direct agglutination test
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Of a total of 5,021 samples of sera tested in Jamaica between 1960-1978, 651 (12.9%) were positive in significant to microscopic agglutination for leptospirosis. There were 50 (5.9%) positive isolates of 845 cultures. Six serogroups and 13 serotypes of pathogenic leptospiral strains were identified. The serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae serovar icterohaemorrhagiae accounted for 57% of infections and the serogroup hebdomadis, serovar jules accounting for 31% of cases. Human leptospirosis is grossly under-reported in Jamaica and only systematic surveys and surveillance can define the true incidence of the public health problem of this disease.
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Background: The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is commonly used for the diagnosis of canine leptospirosis. In dogs it is sometimes suggested that the serogroup with the highest MAT titer is the infecting serogroup; however, this is not true in humans with confirmed leptospirosis. We sought to investigate the value of MAT results in predicting the infecting serogroup by comparing results across several laboratories and within individual dogs over time. Objectives: To examine the variability in MAT results across different laboratories in dogs recently vaccinated against leptospirosis, and in dogs with clinical leptospirosis, and to investigate variability over time in MAT results in individual dogs with leptospirosis. Animals: Eighteen dogs from a research colony, 9 of which had been vaccinated against leptospirosis, and 17 dogs clinically diagnosed with leptospirosis. Methods: Serum samples were submitted to up to 5 veterinary diagnostic laboratories for MAT titers from each dog on at least 1 occasion. MAT results also were followed over time in 6 dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis. Results: MAT results were discordant across different laboratories in dogs recently vaccinated against leptospirosis and in dogs with clinical leptospirosis. MAT results varied over time in individual dogs with the disease. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The MAT is a valuable test for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in dogs, but it is unlikely that test results can be used to predict the infecting serogroup. Laboratories offering the MAT should consider participation in a proficiency scheme.
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Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis in which dogs can act as a reservoir for human infection. The annual vaccination of dogs can prevent leptospirosis caused by serovars included in the vaccine. To date, all available vaccines in Germany include only the serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola, the most commonly found serovars prior to the introduction of the leptospirosis vaccines. Yet, the involvement of additional serovars in the clinical presentation of leptospirosis in dogs has been described. The objective of this sero-epidemiological study was to examine the different Leptospira serovars currently circulating in a population of dogs suspicious for leptospirosis from Berlin. In 329 dogs presenting at the Small Animal Clinic in Berlin, the predominant serogroup was Australis (24%), followed by Grippotyphosa (20%) and Pomona (9%). A total of 18% of the dogs were diagnosed with clinical leptospirosis; here the most prevalent serogroups were also Australis (28%), Grippotyphosa (18%), and Pomona (14%). The serovar prevalence data presented here confirm that a change of pattern of infecting Leptospira serovars in dogs has taken place in Berlin. This data corresponds to further sero-epidemiological studies from other regions in Germany. To ensure human and canine health, available vaccines should be adapted to include the most important circulating serovars.
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Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global concern, and is caused by pathogenic serovar Leptospira interrogans. Canine Leptospirososis is widespread worldwide, dogs can act as incidental hosts or maintenance hosts for various serovars. The purpose of this research was to identify leptospire serovars that infect healthy and suspected leptospirosis dogs in Yogyakarta. A total of 56 dogs (36 healthy dogs and 20 suspect leptospirosis dogs) sera were taken from cephalica vein as much as 3 ml. Sera were examined for leptospirosis with Microscopic Aglutination Test (MAT) which conducted at the Research Center for Veterinary Science, Bogor. Microscopic Aglutination Test carried out on various Leptospire serovar, namely: Ichterohaemorrhagiae, Javanica, Celledoni, Ballum, Pyogenes, Cynopeteri, Rachmati, Australis, Pomona, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Bataviae, Hardjo, and Tarrasovi. The results showed that Celledoni serovars infected 25% of healthy dogs and 5% of suspect leptospirosis dogs, Javanica serovar infected 19% of healthy dogs, Bataviae serovars infected 15% of suspect leptospirosis dogs, Grippotyphosa serovar infected 11% of healthy dogs, Tarrasovi serovar infected 10% of suspect leptospirosis dogs, serovars Cynopteri infects 5% of healthy dogs and 5% of suspect leptospirosis dogs, serovar Pyrogenes infects 5% of healthy dogs and 5% of suspect leptospirosis dogs, and serovar Rachmati infects 5% of suspect leptospirosis dogs. Seven healthy dogs (19%) and 2 suspect leptospirosis dogs (10%) were infected with more than 2 leptospire serovars. From the results of this study it can be concluded that Celledoni serovar of Leptospira interrogans infection causes subclinical leptospirosis, while Bataviae serovar infection causes clinical leptospirosis in dogs in Yogyakarta.
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Stray dogs (n=207), suspected canine cases of leptospirosis (n=50) and rats (n=200) from the Caribbean island of Trinidad were subjected to the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) for leptospirosis. The seroprevalence in stray dogs was 15.5% (n=32), the predominant serogroup was Icterohaemorrhagiae (14.5%; n=30) with agglutinations to serovars Copenhageni at 5.8%, Icterohaemorrhagiae at 4.8%, Mankarso at 3.9%. The seroprevalence among suspected canine cases was 72% (n=36) with Icterohaemorrhagiae again being the predominant serogroup at 60% inclusive of serovars: Copenhageni, 44%; Mankarso, 14%; and Icterohaemorrhagiae 2%. A seroprevalence of 16.5% was determined in rats, all agglutinations were to the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup (inclusive of serovars Copenhageni, 9.5%; Icterohaemorrhagiae, 5.5%; and Mankarso, 1.5%). Overall serovar Copenhageni was the most common serovar as 11.6% of all the animal species tested by the MAT were positive and may be an important zoonotic serovar in Trinidad. The titres of infecting serovars of Leptospira in suspected canine cases of leptospirosis were considerably higher than that found in stray dogs and in rats where the lowest titres were found. Age and sex were not significant risk factors except in the case of rats where age was significant, indicating that juvenile rats were at a significantly higher risk. There was no definite pattern of the distribution of positive animals or the serovars when using the MAT. Data obtained in the current study indicate that dogs and rats in Trinidad have the potential to be sources of leptospiral infections for humans. This potential has public health implications making it imperative to control rat and stray dog populations in the island to reduce the risk of human leptospirosis.
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Bacteria of the genus Leptospira can cause widespread and potentially lethal bacterial zoonosis called leptospirosis. Considered a neglected tropical zoonotic disease, leptospirosis was recognized as a global public health problem due to its increasing prevalence in developing and developed countries. This review focused on the current knowledge on leptospiral infection, classification, epidemiology, and detection methods. We are also reviewing the data on the study of Leptospira in Lithuania available in the literature.
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Background and Aim: Leptospirosis is considered a neglected tropical zoonosis in low-income countries due to surveillance system limitations and non-specificity of symptoms. Humans become infected through direct contact with carrier animals or indirectly through Leptospira-contaminated environments. Conventionally, equines have been considered an uncommon source of leptospirosis, but recent publications in Latin America suggest that their role in the maintenance and dispersion of the bacteria could be more relevant than expected, as horses are susceptible to a wide variety of zoonotic Leptospira spp. from domestic and wild animals with which they share the environment. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted to compile the available information on Leptospira spp. in Ecuador, with a special focus on equine leptospirosis, to better understand the epidemiology of the bacterium and identify possible knowledge gaps. Materials and Methods: : A systematic review of the published literature was conducted in PubMed, SciELO and Web of Science databases to compile the available information on Leptospira spp. in Ecuador, with a special focus on equine leptospirosis, to better understand the epidemiology of the bacterium. We used a combination of the terms (Leptospira OR Leptospirosis) AND Ecuador, without restrictions on language or publication date. Results: Our literature review reveals that published scientific information is very scarce. Eighteen full-text original scientific articles related to Leptospira or leptospirosis cases in Ecuador were included in the systematic review. Most of the studies reported data obtained from one of the four regions (Coast), and specifically from only one of the 24 Provinces of Ecuador (Manabí), which evidence a large information bias at the geographical level. Furthermore, only the studies focused on humans included clinical signs of leptospirosis and there is only one study that analyzes the presence of Leptospira spp. in water or soil as a risk factor for pathogen transmission. Finally, only one study investigated Leptospira in horses. Conclusion: Since sentinel species can provide useful data on infectious diseases when epidemiologic al information is lacking, and horses could be considered excellent sentinel species to reveal circulating serovars, we propose developing a nationwide surveillance system using horses. This cost-effective epidemiological survey method provides a baseline for implementing specific prevention and control programs in Ecuador and neighboring developing countries. Keywords: Ecuador, equine leptospirosis, neglected tropical zoonosis, one-health, sentinel species, systematic review.
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