College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Transbound Emerg Dis. 2020 May;67(3):1119-1128. doi: 10.1111/tbed.13437. Epub 2019 Dec 16.
Leptospirosis is one of the most common and neglected tropical waterborne diseases in China, causing serious economic losses, and constituting a significant public health threat. Leptospirosis has recently received increased attention and is considered a re-emerging infectious disease in many countries. The incidence of leptospirosis among people suggests that occupation, age, season, sex and water recreational activities are significant risk factors. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profiles of leptospirosis in China during the 2007-2018 period. The morbidity data of leptospirosis by age, season (month), gender, occupation and geographic location (different provinces) were obtained from the public health science data centre of China for subsequent epidemiological analysis. The results indicate that the incidence of leptospirosis has shown a slow downward trend from 2007 to 2018, but morbidity rates were still relatively high (0.0660-0.0113). The incidence of leptospirosis varied in different provinces of China; cases localized mainly to the Southern and Central provinces, areas with warm weather and ample rainfall. Older people (aged 60-75), males, farmers, students and field workers were high-risk populations. During the 2007-2018 observation period, morbidity rates increased beginning in May, remained at high levels in August and September and decreased after November. The present investigation highlights the re-emergence of leptospirosis in some provinces of China (especially in Yunnan and Fujian) and shows that leptospirosis remains a serious public health threat. The results of this study should enhance measures taken for the prevention, control, and surveillance of leptospirosis in China.
钩端螺旋体病是中国最常见和被忽视的热带水传播疾病之一，造成严重的经济损失，并构成重大的公共卫生威胁。近年来，钩端螺旋体病受到了更多的关注，在许多国家被认为是一种重新出现的传染病。人群中钩端螺旋体病的发病率表明，职业、年龄、季节、性别和水娱乐活动是重要的危险因素。本研究旨在描述 2007-2018 年期间中国钩端螺旋体病的流行病学特征。从中国公共卫生科学数据中心获取了按年龄、季节（月）、性别、职业和地理位置（不同省份）分类的钩端螺旋体病发病率数据，以便进行后续的流行病学分析。结果表明，从 2007 年到 2018 年，钩端螺旋体病的发病率呈缓慢下降趋势，但发病率仍然相对较高（0.0660-0.0113）。中国不同省份的钩端螺旋体病发病率存在差异；病例主要集中在南方和中部省份，这些地区天气温暖，降雨量充足。老年人（60-75 岁）、男性、农民、学生和野外工作者是高危人群。在 2007-2018 年观察期间，发病率从 5 月开始上升，8 月和 9 月保持在较高水平，11 月后下降。本调查强调了中国一些省份（特别是云南和福建）钩端螺旋体病的重新出现，并表明钩端螺旋体病仍然是一个严重的公共卫生威胁。本研究的结果应加强中国对钩端螺旋体病的预防、控制和监测措施。
