Epidemiologic Assessment of Leptospira Serotypes in Caspian Littoral

authors:

avatar Fariborz Mansour Ghanaei 1 , * , avatar Mohammad Sadegh Fallah 1 , avatar Reyhaneh Jafarshad 1 , avatar Farahnaz Joukar 1 , avatar Hamidreza Honarmand 1 , avatar Abtin Heidarzadeh 1 , avatar Mahmood Khoshsorur 1

Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center (GLDRC), Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IR Iran

how to cite: Mansour Ghanaei F, Fallah M S, Jafarshad R, Joukar F, Honarmand H, et al. Epidemiologic Assessment of Leptospira Serotypes in Caspian Littoral. Arch Clin Infect Dis. 2008;3(3): 133-6. 

Abstract

Background:

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis in the world with more prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease is very common in flat area of Gilan, northern Iran, where the climate is humid and temperate and rice farming is main agricultural activity in rural areas.

Patients and methods:

We performed this study in 2004 by taking blood samples from 465 hospitalized patients who were suspected of leptospirosis based on their clinical presentation, to find positive cases and analysis their signs, symptoms, and epidemiological data, and also to determine the most common clinical features of the disease in the area. All sera were examined by microscopic agglutination test.

Results:

Renal failure was most common symptoms (4.5%). Icterhaemorrhagia had highest titers in 57.0% of patients

Conclusion:

In Gilan province, some of the farmers get leptospirosis each year near the end of spring and summer at the time of rice harvesting. Better recognition of the disease and diagnosing it at proper time can improve the quality of life and health state of the farmers.

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