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. 2008 Dec;102(12):1233-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.010. Epub 2008 Jul 2.

Leptospirosis in a subsistence farming community in Brazil

Hênio G Lacerda  1 , Gloria R Monteiro, Carlos C G Oliveira, Fernando B Suassuna, Jose W Queiroz, James D A Barbosa, Daniella R Martins, Mitemayer G Reis, Albert I Ko, Selma M B Jeronimo
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Leptospirosis in a subsistence farming community in Brazil

Hênio G Lacerda et al. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Dec.

Abstract

Leptospirosis has been reported in rural areas of Brazil. However, there is limited information about the exposure risk or the risk of Leptospira infection for rural-based populations. A cross-sectional study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence and risk factors for prior Leptospira infection in a rural subsistence farming region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, an area in which outbreaks of leptospirosis have occurred. Among 290 individuals enrolled, 44 (15.2%) had anti-Leptospira IgM antibodies as determined by IgM ELISA. Infection tended to occur with activities related to the rice fields (P=0.08). Our findings indicate that Leptospira infection occurs even in years of low rainfall, and may have an important impact among poor rural-based subsistence farmers in Brazil. Additional studies are needed to characterize the mode of transmission in this region.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Confirmed cases of leptospirosis and annual rainfall index in the western region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, 1985–2005. Black and white boxes represent the number of laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis cases and suspected dengue cases (y-axis on left) reported from this subsistence farming region. The line represents the annual accumulated rainfall (y-axis on right).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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