Skip Navigation

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal Seroprevalence of leptospirosis and risk factor analysis in flood-prone rural areas in Lao PDR

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Kawaguchi L, Sengkeopraseuth B, Tsuyuoka R, Koizumi N, Akashi H, Vongphrachanh P, Watanabe H, Aoyama A
2008
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 78 (6): 957-961

A cross-sectional seroprevalence study on leptospirosis, using microscopic agglutination test (MAT), was conducted in rural villages in Khammouane Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, in December 2006. The overall prevalence of leptospiral infection among 406 subjects was 23.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.7-28.0%). Independent risk factors for the infection, identified by multivariate logistic regression, were male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; 95% CI: 1.24-2.98), recent flooding on one's own property (OR, 2.12; 95% CI: 1.25-3.58), and collecting wood in the forest (OR, 1.90; 95% CI: 1.17-3.09). Age, occupation, and animal ownership were not associated with seropositivity. Flooding was associated with the risk of infection particularly for women, whose behaviors or activities involving contact with floodwater were presumed to play an important role. This study showed that leptospirosis is endemic in Khammouane Province and that local flooding plays an important role in the transmission of the disease.

Expand Abstract

Resource Description

    Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster, Water Quality
    • Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster, Water Quality: Flood
    • Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster, Water Quality: Marine/Freshwater Pathogen
    Rural, Tropical
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Asia
    Infectious Disease
    • Infectious Disease: Waterborne Disease
      • Waterborne Disease: Leptospirosis
      Waterborne Disease
    Research Article
    Vulnerable Population
    • Vulnerable Population: Elderly, Workers
Back
to Top