The role of gender in the prevalence of human leptospirosis in Albania

Abstract

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic spirochetal disease with global importance, which continues to have a major impact on public health in developing countries. The prevalence of the disease is much higher in males. The objectives of this study were: to give some data and to share our experience with human leptospirosis in Albania; to describe the prevalence regarding to the role of gender in the prevalence of human leptospirosis; to make a gender specific analysis of the clinical manifestations in patients diagnosed and treated for leptospirosis in our service and to make a review of literature related to this hypothesis.
 Methodology: We reviewed the epidemiologic data, risk factors and differences in clinical presentation between males and females’ patients with leptospirosis. These data are analysed from hospitalized patients. Diagnosis of leptospirosis was established based on clinical presentation, epidemiological data and subsequently confirmed serologically by Anti-Leptospira IgM antibodies through ELISA test.
 Results: Between 2005-2016, 233 cases of confirmed leptospirosis were analysed. Males were 208 (89.27%) and 25 of patients (10.72%) were females in ratio 9:1 p < 0.001. The highest prevalence was observed in the 45-64 age groups. Overall mortality was found to be 8.58%, 19 were males and one female p < 0.001.
 Conclusions: There is a much higher prevalence of leptospirosis in middle aged men. Mortality rate seems to be similar in males and females. While the difference in prevalence may be related to exposure to risk factors, further investigation is necessary to study gender-based genetic and immunological predisposition.

Analysis of Environmental Risk Factors on the Leptospirosis Disease in Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia

“…The study was not in line with a study by Puca et al (2018), that obtained the highest prevalence of Leptospirosis was at the age of 45-69 years. The study revealed the characteristic similarities of age that it obtained almost similar percentages between case and control group.…”

“…In line with a study conducted by Lau and Jagals (2012), the study indicated that male was at risk in increasing leptospirosis incidences. Similar also with a study by Puca et al (2018), which also indicated that male was more at risk than female. It was related to their occupation.…”

Relationship Between the Prevalence of Blood Groups and Severity of Leptospirosis: A Case-Control Study

“…Thus, most people with the disease have been involved in agriculture as their mainoccupation. [21][22][23] In many surveys, 17,18,24,25 including our study, leptospirosis was most common in middleaged people (40-60 years). In our patients, the mean hospitalization days were lower than in the study by Goris et al, 26 which could be due to the fact that in the study by Goris et al, 26 people with severe forms of the disease were examined.…”

“…The role of sex in the possibility of leptospirosis infection has been investigated in humans so that the prevalence of this disease in men is higher than that in women, possibly due to occupational exposure. 17,18 Leptospirosis is more common in temperate and tropical climates. 19 Pathogenic Leptospira can be found in ponds, rivers, pits, sewers, agricultural fields, and moist soils, 20 which is why agricultural occupations are so important in terms of occupational exposure.…”

Leptospira in the different ecological niches of the tribal union territory of India

“…Leptospirosis is a microbial disease which affects both animals and humans in countries with tropical, humid and sub-tropical climates. It's also an occupational disease and also been found to be associated with the recreational activities, exposure through contaminated water or soil [1,2]. Humans and animals when they encounter a leptospirescontaminated environment become infected; entry is mainly through their skins and mucous membranes [2].…”