Risk factors in human leptospirosis

A seroepidemiological study through the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) performed at Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela determined a 33.3% prevalence in 96 febril patients with compatible symptom of leptospirosis between March 1992 to May 1994. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were founded about the prevalence according to the sex, but an increase of this was detected with the age. Significant differences (P > 0.05) related to the origin were not detected even though the positivity was higher at the rural area, followed by the marginal and urban one. The outcomes within prevalence and economical incomes were significant (P < 0.05). From 96 studied patients, 13 showed an active infection reacting serologically with the icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, hardjo, panama cynopteri, pyogenes and sejroe serovars. It permitted determine the disease incidence in a 13.5%. In the patients with past infection, 42% of them reacted to one leptospira serogroup; 36.8% did against two serogroups; 15.8% to three ones, and only 5.3% reacted to four ones. It was determined that from 54% of the active letospirosis patients, their exposition to the risk were represented by contact with mud, humid and marshy soil; 23% with sewage and stagnant water; 15% by contact with animals and the remaining 8%, by swiming in well. The occupational and recreative activities were involucrated in the 54% and 46% respectively. The infection in the exposed individuals was 21 more times more, related to than the non exposed one.