Isolation of Leptospira in the urine of occupationally predisposed human groups in Sokoto state, Nigeria

Abstract

This research undertook a prospective bacteriological survey for Leptospira in humans. The objective was to investigate the possibility of Leptospira circulating in apparently healthy but known occupationally predisposed human groups as a subset of the general population. Standard and globally applicable culture isolation methods were used to screen random occupationally vulnerable groups recruited in the study. By informed consent and participation, urine samples were subjected to Ellinghausen McCollough Johnson Harris (EMJH) culture in a ration of 2:18 sample against medium as previously used with high isolation rate by researchers. A total of 176 human urine samples were analyzed, demographical factors such as age, sex, seasons and occupation were carefully recorded for each sample. An overall prevalence of 10.2% was obtained. The abattoir workers recorded a prevalence of 5.7% as did the dog handlers with a prevalence of 29.7%. Veterinarians, previously reported as constituting the prime risk group recorded a prevalence of 2.7% in contrast to animal handlers which serve as nurses with a prevalence of 10.0%. There was significant association of rainy season with infection (P<0.05). The evidence shows various occupationally predisposed human groups presents asymptomatic infection hence serving as possible carriers of Leptospira. Although serovars were not determined, detection of Leptospira underscores prospective surveys as the first step in determining infection status in population so that asymptomatic carriers will be isolated then treated.