Yamen Hegazy1, Walid Elmonir2, Atef Fatehy Oreiby1, Ibrahim E Eldesoukey3, Maryan Fransis1, Magdy H Al-Gaabary1. 1. Animal Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. 2. Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (Zoonoses) Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. walid.elmonir@gmail.com. 3. Bacteriology, Mycology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonosis in developing countries including Egypt where its burden is underestimated. METHODOLOGY: A cross sectional study was carried out to estimate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo infection among cows and leptospirosis among human patients in Mid-Delta of Egypt. RESULTS: Out of 112 examined cows using ELISA, 3.6% were seropositive to L. interrogans serovar Hardjo infection. Seroconversion occurred in 5 animals (1 herd) of all examined animals in convalescent phase testing (5/112, 4.5%). Affected herd suffered acute outbreak with 43.3% within herd prevalence; signs of infection included abortions, bloody urine and sudden death of 2 cows. Highest risk for L. interrogans serovar Hardjo infection in cows was in animals drank from untreated surface water (6.7 times, p = 0.06). The seroprevalence of leptospirosis was 6.2% in all tested humans, 28.6% in nonspecific fever cases and 22.2% in non-viral hepatitis cases. The risk of leptospirosis among patients with nonspecific fever or non-viral hepatitis cases was 4 times higher than those with viral hepatitis (p = 0.01). Additionally, there was a significant association between leptospirosis and patients with livestock contact (Odds 8, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of L. interrogans serovar Hardjo outbreak in cows in Egypt. The study also highlighted the role of leptospirosis as neglected cause of nonspecific fever/non-viral hepatitis in humans in study region. Copyright (c) 2021 Yamen Hegazy, Walid Elmonir, Atef Fatehy Oreiby, Ibrahim E Eldesoukey, Maryan Fransis, Magdy H Al-Gaabary.
INTRODUCTION: Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonosis in developing countries including Egypt where its burden is underestimated. METHODOLOGY: A cross sectional study was carried out to estimate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo infection among cows and leptospirosis among human patients in Mid-Delta of Egypt. RESULTS: Out of 112 examined cows using ELISA, 3.6% were seropositive to L. interrogans serovar Hardjo infection. Seroconversion occurred in 5 animals (1 herd) of all examined animals in convalescent phase testing (5/112, 4.5%). Affected herd suffered acute outbreak with 43.3% within herd prevalence; signs of infection included abortions, bloody urine and sudden death of 2 cows. Highest risk for L. interrogans serovar Hardjo infection in cows was in animals drank from untreated surface water (6.7 times, p = 0.06). The seroprevalence of leptospirosis was 6.2% in all tested humans, 28.6% in nonspecific fever cases and 22.2% in non-viral hepatitis cases. The risk of leptospirosis among patients with nonspecific fever or non-viral hepatitis cases was 4 times higher than those with viral hepatitis (p = 0.01). Additionally, there was a significant association between leptospirosis and patients with livestock contact (Odds 8, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of L. interrogans serovar Hardjo outbreak in cows in Egypt. The study also highlighted the role of leptospirosis as neglected cause of nonspecific fever/non-viral hepatitis in humans in study region. Copyright (c) 2021 Yamen Hegazy, Walid Elmonir, Atef Fatehy Oreiby, Ibrahim E Eldesoukey, Maryan Fransis, Magdy H Al-Gaabary.
Authors: Nermin Awade Ibrahim; Barakat M Alrashdi; Yasser Fathi Elnaker; Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy; Mohamed A Alblihed; Mohamed Said Daib; Amany M Abd Elmoety; Eman A Abo Elfadl; Basma M Badawy; Elzahara Elbaz Journal: Trop Med Infect Dis Date: 2022-08-24