Seroepidemiology of Leptospira Exposure in General Population in Rural Durango, Mexico

• Published in: BioMed research international 2015-01, Vol.2015 (2015), p.1-5
• Main Authors: Alvarado-Esquivel, Cosme, Hernández-Tinoco, Jesús, Sánchez-Anguiano, Luis Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies; Education; Educational Status; Employment; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Enzymes; Female; Gender; Gram-negative bacteria; Health aspects; Host-bacteria relationships; Housing - statistics & numerical data; Housing conditions; Humans; Immunoassay; Incidence; Infections; Laboratories; Leptospira; Leptospira - immunology; Leptospirosis; Leptospirosis - blood; Leptospirosis - epidemiology; Male; Mexico - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Multivariate analysis; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Risk Assessment; Rural areas; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Sample size; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Sex Distribution; Social Class; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic factors; Statistical analysis; Statistics; Young Adult; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 2314-6133; 2314-6141
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/460578

The magnitude of Leptospira exposure in rural Mexico is largely unknown. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira IgG antibodies in adults in rural Durango, Mexico, and to determine the sociodemographic, behavioral, and housing characteristics of the subjects associated with Leptospira seropositivity. We performed a cross-sectional study in 282 adults living in rural Durango, Mexico. Sera from participants were analyzed for Leptospira IgG antibodies using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay. Seroprevalence association with the characteristics of the subjects was analyzed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. Of the 282 rural subjects (42.91 ± 17.53 years old) studied, 44 (15.6%) had anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies. Seropositivity to Leptospira was not associated with gender, educational level, employment, socioeconomic status, contact with animals or soil, or type of floors at home. In contrast, multivariate analysis showed that Leptospira exposure was associated with national trips (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.05–4.16; P = 0.03 ) and poor education of the head of the family (OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.51–5.78; P = 0.001 ). We demonstrated serological evidence of Leptospira exposure in adults in rural northern Mexico. The contributing factors associated with Leptospira exposure found in the present study may be useful for optimal planning of preventive measures against Leptospira infection.