Seroepidemiological study of leptospirosis in Ghaemshahr Mazandaran province-Iran, Sept-Oct 2004

Background and Leptospirosis is a zoonotic spirochetal disease caused by coming into contact with water or soil contaminated with urine of the infected animals such as sheep, hours, cow, rat and etc. Farmers, animal husbands, veterinarians and those practicing aqua sport are at risk. This study was undertaken in 13 villages of Ghaemshahr City (September 2004) in which because of previous epidemiological observation the probability of this disease was high. Study was descriptive cross sectional with randomized case selection. Five ml of venous blood was taken from each case and tested using an ELISA method. Information about age, sex, job, area of living, symptoms such as fever, headache, mialgia, diarrhea, nausea during this or past summer were gathered. Serological data showed that prevalence of leptospirosis was 29.4 %. There is no relation between sex and positive serological results (54.8% women & 54.18% men). Leptospirosis in studied area is epidemic and due to its high morbidity, mortality and economical impact,heath education to people would help to control the disease and chemoprophylaxis can also be used.