Serological investigation on the incidence of Leptospira serovars among rice farmers in Veysian, Lorestan province

Abstract

Background: Leptospira is belonged to phylum spirochaetes, which causes leptospirosis disease. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with highly variable symptoms. The purpose of the study was to determine the serological incidence of Leptospira serovars among rice farmers in Veysian, Lorestan province. Materials and Methods: 200 rice farmers of Veysian were sampled (blood sample) clinically in 2014. Blood samples were transfered to the laboratory. The sera were transferred to -20° C until performance of MAT test. The serum samples were examined by the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) method. The final dilution of leptospiral infection was determined by 1:200, 1:400 and 1:800 dilutions. Results: 60 serum samples (30%) out of 200 samples were positive in 1:100 dilution. 38 (63.33%) L. grippotyphosa and 22 (36.67%) L.canicola antigens reacted positively . The infection rate was 65% for males and 35% for females. P value according to gender was 0.02. There is a significant correlation between leptospiral infection and gender based on statistical analysis. The highest and the lowest frequency of positive samples were related to age group over 50 and 21-30 years groups, respectively. Conclusion: Leptospirosis is a common disease among rice farmers, and in Veysian according to the rice farms, and planting and harvesting which are in traditional way is introduced as an impotant infectious disease; therefore to prevent the spread of this disease, health and safty should be developed. Also, using mechanized methods of farming, planting and harvesting, leptospirosis can be prevented largely in the region