Seroepidemiology of anti-leptospira antibody in Golestan province, north of Iran

Southern margin of the Caspian Sea due to keeping of domestic animals and abundance of surface water reservoirs is prone to infection with Leptospira sp.. This study was performed to determine anti-Leptospira antibody frequency in Golestan province, southeast of the Caspian Sea in the north of Iran. This study was performed on 1028 people in Golestan province. Sampling was stratified. Leptospira antibody (IgG) was measured with DRG (USA) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 107 cases (10.4%) had anti-Leptospira sera antibody. Distribution of positive cases was 59 (10.9%) in women and 48 (9.8%) in men. Most positive cases were in the 35-44 years old group. The frequency of positive cases in the people who was living in the towns and villages in Golestan Province were 9.4% and 11.1%, respectively. No significant difference was seen between the groups. According to the data presented in this study and compared to the published data it was shown that the frequency of antibody against Leptospira in Golestan province is lower than both Guilan and Mazandaran provinces in the north of Iran.