Assessment of risk of infection with Leptospira spirochetes among rural population in the Lublin Region, with particular consideration of areas exposed to flooding
Journal Title: Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu - Year 2015, Vol 21, Issue 1
Abstract
[b]Background[/b]. Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira spirochetes, is considered the most widespread zoonosis worldwide. Morbidity may be increased by natural disasters such as floods or typhoons. [b]Aim of the study[/b]. The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiological situation of leptospirosis in the Lublin Region (Eastern Poland) with consideration of the effects of flooding by the Vistula River, by investigating human population and various elements of the environment for the presence of Leptospira in two areas: ‘Area A’ exposed to flooding, and ‘Area B’ not exposed to flooding. [b]Material and methods[/b]. In the Areas A and B, sera of 100 and 98 inhabitants, sera of 32 and 41 pigs and sera of 41 and 40 cows were examined, respectively, for the presence of anti-Leptospira antibodies by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), as well as 40 and 64 samples of water, 40 and 68 samples of soil, organ samples of 30 and 30 small mammals from 5 and 6 species, and 540 and 296 Ixodes ricinus ticks, respectively – for the presence of Leptospira DNA by the nested-PCR test. [b]Results[/b]. The presence of anti-Leptospira antibodies was found in 3% of inhabitants of Area A and in 9.2% of Area B; this difference was statistically insignificant. The frequency of anti-Leptospira antibodies was higher in pigs and cows from Area A, compared to area B (34.4% vs. 4.9%, and 26.8% vs. 15.0%, respectively), while in the case of pigs the difference was significant (P=0.0015). Also, the titers of positive reactions were higher in Area A, compared to Area B, and for cows the difference was significant (P=0.0128). The presence of Leptospira DNA was found in 20% of small mammals from Area A, and in 30% from Area B; this difference being insignificant; however, in both cases the frequency of positive results was high, compared to the data from literature. The great majority of positive results were obtained in striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius). The presence of Leptospira DNA was detected in 15.6% of I. ricinus ticks from Area A, compared to 1.4% in Area B, and the difference was highly significant (P<0.0001). 5% of water samples from Area A contained Leptospira DNA, whereas all water samples from Area B, and all soil samples from Areas A and B were negative. [b]Conclusions[/b]. • The infections with Leptospira spirochetes among the rural population inhabiting the areas of the Lublin Region exposed to floods by the Vistula River do not occur with a higher frequency, compared to the areas not exposed to floods. • The potential sources of infection with Leptospira in the areas exposed to flooding are animals: ticks Ixodes ricinus, domestic animals (pigs, cows), and striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius). • Detection of Leptospira spp. DNA in 5% of water samples in the areas exposed to floods, with negative results in control areas, seems to confirm a possible role of water in spreading leptospirosis. • Soil does not constitute any significant risk of infection in the areas exposed to flooding.
Authors and Affiliations
Jacek Dutkiewicz, Angelina Wójcik-Fatla, Violetta Zając, Bernard Wasiński, Józef Knap, Ewa Cisak, Anna Sawczyn
Patients’ satisfaction as one of the aspects of the quality of health care
Introduction. In the contemporary times, looking after the quality of health services is not only the way of being competitive on the market, but most of all the possibility of improving patients’ satisfaction. Without a...
Effect of martial arts on health
Introduction and objective Physical activity shapes fitness and endurance, which exerts a positive effect on the efficiency of mental and physical work, and daily functioning of the body. Description of the state of kno...
Knowledge of methods advantageously affecting parturition among pregnant women in the Lublin Region
introduction: The cooperation between a woman in labour and the midwife, who fulfils an important role in education of families preparing for childbirth, exerts a great effect on the course of labour. The mother expects...
Risk assessment of disorders of statics of the reproductive organ among women
Introduction and objective of the study: Disorders of statics of the reproductive organ are a common health problem among women. The objective of the study was evaluation of the risk of occurrence of disorders of statics...
Health promoting properties of young barley
Introduction The term ‘young barley’ refers to the seedlings of barley up to 200 hours after germination. The immense popularity of young barley is due mainly to its ability to accelerate metabolism and the burning of fa...