A breathless triathlete

Tunbridge, A.; Dockrell, David H.; Channer, KS; McKendrick, M W

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)07372-5

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although it may occur sporadically, at least 17 outbreaks of leptospirosis associated with water exposure have been documented during the last 50 years [3,7]. Outbreaks of leptospirosis were repeatedly connected with triathlon [5,[8][9][10][11][12]. Other signifi cant outbreaks with relation to water occurred in India, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, Nicaragua and in 2009 in the Philippines after fl oods and other natural disasters [3].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants in Langau, Austria, 2010

Radl

Müller

Revilla‐Fernández

et al. 2011

Wien Klin Wochenschr

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We report on the first documented outbreak of leptospirosis in Austria. In July 2010, four cases of serologically confirmed leptospirosis occurred in athletes after a triathlon held in Langau. Heavy rains preceded the triathlon (rainfall: 22 mm). The index case (Patient A) was a 41-year-old previously healthy male, who was admitted to hospital A on July 8 with a four-day history of fever up to 40°C that began 14 days after attending the triathlon event. On July 7, patient B, a 42-year-old male, was admitted to the same hospital, with signs and symptoms of kidney failure. Hemodialysis was performed every other day for 3 weeks. While the serum drawn on the day of admission was negative for antibodies against Leptospira, a specimen from July 28 tested positive with Leptospira interrogans. On July 11, patient C, a 40-year-old male, was admitted to hospital B for nephritis. On July 14, patient D, a 44-year-old male, was admitted to hospital C with a ten days history of intermittent fever, mild dry cough and headache. Our report underlines that in Austria recreational users of bodies of freshwater must be aware of an existing risk of contracting leptospirosis, particularly after heavy rains. The suppressive influence of a triathlon on the immune system is well documented and therefore an outbreak in this population group can be seen as a sensitive indicator concerning possible risk for the general population.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants in Langau, Austria, 2010

Radl

Müller

Revilla‐Fernández

et al. 2011

Wien Klin Wochenschr

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, the conditions that are involved in open-water swimming may increase the risk for specific conditions [187] such as Acanthamoeba keratitis [188], and for uncommon diseases such as schistosomiasis [189,190] and leptospirosis. Leptospirosis has been incurred by triathletes training [191] and competing [192][193][194][195][196][197] in contaminated surface water. Crucially, the affected athletes were only diagnosed as having been infected after awareness of a leptospirosis outbreak [198] was independently established for the race locality.…”

Section: Illnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lack of detail of assessment that has been involved in most larger-scale studies also makes it difficult to assess how widespread the problems that have only or mostly been reported by case studies (e.g. ESM Table S4) [41,54,166,177,188,191,196,200,[321][322][323][324], and that may to some extent be 'triathlon specific', actually are.…”

Section: Injurymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Triathlon Training and Racing on Athletes’ General Health

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although the sport of triathlon provides an opportunity to research the effect of multi-disciplinary exercise on health across the lifespan, much remains to be done. The literature has failed to consistently or adequately report subject age group, sex, ability level, and/or event-distance specialization. The demands of training and racing are relatively unquantified. Multiple definitions and reporting methods for injury and illness have been implemented. In general, risk factors for maladaptation have not been well-described. The data thus far collected indicate that the sport of triathlon is relatively safe for the well-prepared, well-supplied athlete. Most injuries 'causing cessation or reduction of training or seeking of medical aid' are not serious. However, as the extent to which they recur may be high and is undocumented, injury outcome is unclear. The sudden death rate for competition is 1.5 (0.9-2.5) [mostly swim-related] occurrences for every 100,000 participations. The sudden death rate is unknown for training, although stroke risk may be increased, in the long-term, in genetically susceptible athletes. During heavy training and up to 5 days post-competition, host protection against pathogens may also be compromised. The incidence of illness seems low, but its outcome is unclear. More prospective investigation of the immunological, oxidative stress-related and cardiovascular effects of triathlon training and competition is warranted. Training diaries may prove to be a promising method of monitoring negative adaptation and its potential risk factors. More longitudinal, medical-tent-based studies of the aetiology and treatment demands of race-related injury and illness are needed.

show abstract

“…Of the 62 participants, there were six laboratory confirmed cases (IgM, ELISA or MAT) of leptospirosis. The river Liffey has previously been implicated in a case of leptospirosis following a triathlon (Tunbridge et al. 2002).…”

Section: Recreational Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Leptospirosis: risks during recreational activities

Monahan

Miller

Nally

2009

Journal of Applied Microbiology

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Rats, dogs, cattle, bats and sea lions, exemplify the diversity of mammalian species that can facilitate transmission of the zoonotic disease leptospirosis. The causative agent, pathogenic species of Leptospira, is shed in urine of chronically infected hosts. Direct contact with infected urine, or indirectly with water sources contaminated with infected urine, poses a risk of infection for humans exposed during water‐related recreational and occupational activities. New serovars of Leptospira and maintenance hosts continue to be identified. In the western world, incidences of recreational exposure are increasing, while incidences of occupational exposure are decreasing. Adventure travellers returning from tropical regions, are presenting at clinics with symptoms of leptospirosis following participation in high risk activities including white water rafting, triathlons, endurance races and caving. Risks of infection can be reduced with increased awareness of how the disease is contracted, by avoiding contact with high risk water sources and the use of prophylaxis during high risk activities. Molecular techniques can be used to provide risk assessments prior to competition, to supplement epidemiology, and to assess shedding of Leptospira in urine samples.

show abstract

A breathless triathlete

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants in Langau, Austria, 2010

Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants in Langau, Austria, 2010

The Impact of Triathlon Training and Racing on Athletes’ General Health

Leptospirosis: risks during recreational activities

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About