Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency of antibodies against leptospira in asymptomatic persons in people working in commerce and agriculture in Coronel Portillo province in Ucayali department, Peru. We also aimed at determining the prevalence of leptospirosis in domestic animals. Material and Methods: In this analytic cross-sectional study, serum samples from 364 people in 4 sites were taken, and we measured serum total antibodies against leptospira using an ELISA test and a microagglutination assay. A statistical analysis was performed in order to determine the degree of association between the population general characteristics and the data collected in the survey with being positive for antibodies against leptospira. Simultaneously we took 374 serum samples from domestic animals (dogs), and we performed microagglutination test in these samples. Results: 364 persons were enrolled, and 227 (62.4%) female and 137 (37.6%) male. 114 (31.3%) persons had antibodies against leptospira, and most frequent serovars were Bratislava and Georgia. Factors likely to be associated with having positive antibodies against leptospira in the population studied were: to keep food at the household (OR= 2.221), being a farmer (OR= 3.418), being a manual workers and a farmer (OR= 2.088), and to throw rubbish in the field (OR= 2.348). Amongst dogs, 181 (52.2%) has positive serological tests for leptospira. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of positive serological tests for leptospira in the general asymptomatic population, and there are favorable conditions for the development of Leptospira infections in the sites studied. We recommend to frequently perform educational and preventive activities, taking into account the results from our study.
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