College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand.
College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand.
J Infect Public Health. 2019 Sep-Oct;12(5):705-711. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2019.03.019. Epub 2019 Apr 12.
Leptospirosis is a major public health problem in Thailand. This disease is caused by a Leptospira infection. Leptospira is found in rats and other animals that can contaminate soil and water resources. This research aimed to (1) study the perceptions and preventive measures taken to control leptospirosis among local populations and (2) to detect Leptospira in rats and natural surface water.
This cross-sectional study was performed in both villages with and without case histories of leptospirosis. The research procedures were divided into 2 parts. First, the perceptions and preventive measures for leptospirosis used data from 108 sampled subjects that were recruited in May 2015. Second, the rats and surface water samples were collected. DNA was extracted from collected samples and then specific genes specific to Leptospira were detected using PCR technique.
The awareness of leptospirosis of samples in two villages was at high level with the same percentage being at 91.6%. However, the preventive behaviors to leptospirosis of participants from both villages were found to be at only the moderate level. Leptospira detection in rats and surface water used a PCR technique. There was no Leptospira found in any of the 270 rat samples and 100 surface water samples taken from both villages.
Regardless, perception and preventive behaviors for dealing with leptospirosis should be continuously encouraged even when its presence is not detected. Clearly, people have to practice good behaviors for the prevention of this pathogen to be safe.
钩端螺旋体病是泰国的一个主要公共卫生问题。这种疾病是由钩端螺旋体感染引起的。钩端螺旋体存在于老鼠和其他可能污染土壤和水资源的动物中。本研究旨在：（1）研究当地居民对钩端螺旋体病的认识和采取的预防措施；（2）检测老鼠和自然地表水的钩端螺旋体。
这项横断面研究在有和没有钩端螺旋体病病史的两个村庄进行。研究程序分为两部分。首先，使用 2015 年 5 月招募的 108 名抽样对象的数据来研究对钩端螺旋体病的认识和预防措施。其次，收集老鼠和地表水样本。从收集的样本中提取 DNA，然后使用 PCR 技术检测特定的钩端螺旋体基因。
两个村庄的样本对钩端螺旋体病的认识处于较高水平，相同的比例为 91.6%。然而，两个村庄的参与者对钩端螺旋体病的预防行为被发现仅处于中等水平。使用 PCR 技术检测老鼠和地表水的钩端螺旋体。在来自两个村庄的 270 只老鼠样本和 100 个地表水样本中均未发现钩端螺旋体。
尽管如此，即使没有发现钩端螺旋体的存在，也应继续鼓励对钩端螺旋体病的认识和预防行为。显然，人们必须采取良好的行为来预防这种病原体，以确保安全。
