OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Leptospira serovars among veterinarians and identify risk factors for seropositivity in veterinary care settings. DESIGN: Seroepidemiologic survey. STUDY POPULATION: Veterinarians attending the 2006 AVMA Annual Convention. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected from 511 veterinarians, and serum was harvested for a microcapsule agglutination test (MAT) to detect antibodies against 6 serovars of Leptospira. Aggregate data analysis was performed to determine the ratio of the odds of a given exposure (eg, types of animals treated or biosafety practices) in seropositive individuals to the odds in seronegative individuals. RESULTS: Evidence of previous leptospiral infection was detected in 2.5% of veterinarians. Most veterinarians reported multiple potential exposures to Leptospira spp and other pathogens in the previous 12 months, including unintentional needlestick injuries (379/511 [74.2%]), animal bites (345/511 [67.5%]), and animal scratches (451/511 [88.3%]). Treatment of a dog with an influenza-like illness within the past year was associated with seropositivity for antibodies against Leptospira spp. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians are at risk for leptospirosis and should take measures to decrease potential exposure to infectious agents in general. Diagnostic tests for leptospirosis should be considered when veterinarians have febrile illnesses of unknown origin.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Leptospira serovars among veterinarians and identify risk factors for seropositivity in veterinary care settings. DESIGN: Seroepidemiologic survey. STUDY POPULATION: Veterinarians attending the 2006 AVMA Annual Convention. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected from 511 veterinarians, and serum was harvested for a microcapsule agglutination test (MAT) to detect antibodies against 6 serovars of Leptospira. Aggregate data analysis was performed to determine the ratio of the odds of a given exposure (eg, types of animals treated or biosafety practices) in seropositive individuals to the odds in seronegative individuals. RESULTS: Evidence of previous leptospiral infection was detected in 2.5% of veterinarians. Most veterinarians reported multiple potential exposures to Leptospira spp and other pathogens in the previous 12 months, including unintentional needlestick injuries (379/511 [74.2%]), animal bites (345/511 [67.5%]), and animal scratches (451/511 [88.3%]). Treatment of a dog with an influenza-like illness within the past year was associated with seropositivity for antibodies against Leptospira spp. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians are at risk for leptospirosis and should take measures to decrease potential exposure to infectious agents in general. Diagnostic tests for leptospirosis should be considered when veterinarians have febrile illnesses of unknown origin.
Authors: Angelina Wójcik-Fatla; Jacek Sroka; Violetta Zając; Jacek Zwoliński; Anna Sawczyn-Domańska; Anna Kloc; Ewa Bilska-Zając; Robert Chmura; Jacek Dutkiewicz Journal: J Vet Res Date: 2018-12-31 Impact factor: 1.744
Authors: Karin Taus; Friedrich Schmoll; Ziad El-Khatib; Herbert Auer; Heidemarie Holzmann; Stephan Aberle; Shiva Pekard-Amenitsch; Stefanie Monschein; Tatjana Sattler; Romana Steinparzer; Franz Allerberger; Daniela Schmid Journal: Zoonoses Public Health Date: 2019-08-16 Impact factor: 2.702
Authors: K Pedersen; T D Anderson; S N Bevins; K L Pabilonia; P N Whitley; D R Virchow; T Gidlewski Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2016-10-04 Impact factor: 4.434