Risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among students at the veterinary school of Zaragoza University

Abstract

The prevalence and risk factors associated with leptospirosis were studied in veterinary students in Zaragoza. Sera were collected at the beginning and end of the academic year 1994 to 1995 and were tested by ELISA against a pool of Leptospira interrogans serovars bratislava, canicola, grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona antigens. At the beginning of the study the prevalence was 8.14 per cent and at the end it was 11.4 per cent. The incidence of the disease during the study was 0.0394. Risk factors associated with leptospirosis included: taking the course specialising in food inspection and technology, on-farm work, contact with pets in general, and particularly carnivores, and contact with animal traders. The symptoms associated with the disease were myalgia and fever, and the treatment of the symptoms provided some protection.

Serological Evidence of Exposure toLeptospiraspp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago

“…A seroprevalence of 9.7% detected amongst apparently healthy veterinary students using the IgG ELISA in the current study is comparable to the 8.14% reported for veterinary students in Spain [33] where the IgG ELISA was similarly used. However, in that study it was established that the rate of infection by Leptospira spp.…”

“…Animal handling and exposure have been reported to be important in contracting Leptospira spp. infection [9, 11, 12, 33, 34]. …”

Leptospirosis in dogs and cats: epidemiology, clinical disease, zoonotic implications and prevention

“…Prevalence of Leptospira infection and frequently reported serovars in cats in cross-sectional studies carried out in some countries. Spain, showed a seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies of 20.58% (Simón et al 1999). This report suggests that pet ownership could be related with a serological reaction to Leptospira infection and highlight the potential of zoonotic infection.…”

Zoonoses in Veterinary Students: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Moreover, this relationship is also suggested in various works assessing seropositivity against Leptospira spp. in veterinary students [23–26]. One case of infection by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis of laboratory origin has been reported [21] and also one case of West Nile virus after performing a necropsy on an infected horse [68].…”

“…On the contrary, the detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in veterinary students has not been associated to contact with livestock but to factors such as age and previous hospitalization [42]. Regarding the works which assess seropositivity against Leptospira spp., four articles suggest a zoonotic origin [23–26], whereas only one study states that veterinary students can be defined as a low risk group though their great exposure to animal urine [27] and other of them did not detect any positive over the 4-year period studied [8]. …”