EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS IN VOJVODINA, SERBIA, 2009-2018, FROM THE ASPECT OF ONE HEALTH

Abstract

This study summarizes demographical and chronological characteristics of human leptospirosis and reveals the spatial distribution of this disease in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina during the period 2009-2018, as well as examines possible relationships between the occurrence of the disease and climatic factors. Additionally, it describes the seroprevalence of the disease among domestic animals in the same area and the same period. Pearson’s correlation was used to explore correlations between different meteorological factors and trends in time-series of human cases. Overall 87 human cases of leptospirosis and five subsequent deaths (Case Fatality Rate - CFR: 5.75%) were recorded in the ten-year period. The average annual incidence rate was 0.45/100,000 (range: 0.16 - 1.50/100,000). The disease was more prevalent in males (M/F = 16.40: 1), with the majority of cases reported in August (N = 23; 26.44%), September (N = 20; 23%) and October (N = 15; 17.24%). A statistically significant weak positive correlation was observed between the mean monthly air temperature and the number of human cases of leptospirosis of the same month (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), and a statistically significant weak positive correlation was found between the number of human cases and the sum of precipitation in the previous month (r = 0.27, p < 0.01). The average annual seroprevalence among domestic animals in total was 1.13% (range: 0.23 - 3.65%). Seropositivity of tested samples of cats, dogs, cattle, donkeys, horses, sheep, pigs and goats was 25%, 9.50%, 8.55%, 6.25%, 1.59%, 0.25%, 0.18%, and 0.00, respectively. Human and animal leptospirosis occurs continuously in Vojvodina, which implies the need for constant and thorough monitoring of the epidemiological and epizootic situation of this disease. Further, more comprehensive parallel studies in humans and animals are needed as well as additional studies of living conditions of animals on farms with leptospirosis, and more extensive studies that will determine the influence of climatic/ environmental factors on the occurrence of leptospirosis in Vojvodina.