A serological survey for leptospirosis in the Enugu area of eastern Nigeria among people at occupational risk.

A serological examination of sera from 661 human volunteers in various occupations comprising 248 coal miners, 138 butchers and abattoir workers, 213 local farmers and 62 hospital laboratory personnel from various communities in Enugu and environs of eastern Nigeria was undertaken between January 1990 and March 1991. Leptospiral antibody titres of 1:100 and above were present in 89 (13.5%). The highest prevalence of antibodies to individual serovars were canicola 21 (23.6%), hardjo 17 (19.1%), pomona 13 (14.6%), icterohaemorrhagiae 11 (12.4%), pyrogenes 8 (9.0%), autumnalis 8 (9.0%) and grippotyphosa 7 (7.9%). Among the occupational groups examined, the coal miners were particularly at risk with a prevalence rate of 41 (46%), followed by the butchers/abattoir workers 26 (29.2%), farmers 18 (20.2%) and hospital laboratory personnel 4 (4.5%).