Veena R K, Jayashankar M, Vinod Kumar K, Padma M R, Balamurugan V
District Surveillance Unit (DSU), Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
Faulty of Science and Technology (Microbiology), Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Karnataka, India.
Trop Med Int Health. 2025 Jul;30(7):737-748. doi: 10.1111/tmi.14132. Epub 2025 May 23.
Leptospirosis, a significant zoonotic disease, remains a major public health challenge in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India, particularly during the monsoon.
To conduct spatial and temporal analysis of leptospirosis and investigate serogroup-specific distribution of Leptospira antibodies among febrile illness cases in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka state, India during 2022-2023.
A total of 3489 serum samples from human febrile illness cases were screened for Leptospira-specific IgM antibodies using commercial ELISA. A subset of 1631 samples underwent the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) with a panel of 20 serovars representing 17 serogroups. Additionally, PCR targeting the lipL32 gene was performed on a subset of samples to identify active infections. Spatial mapping of seroprevalence and serogroup distribution was carried out using QGIS software.
The overall seroprevalence was (657/3489) 19%. IgM ELISA detected antibodies in (593/3489) 17% of cases, while MAT confirmed a seroprevalence of (154/1631) 9%. Among 80 samples tested by LipL32 PCR, 13 (16%) were positive. Djasiman, Hurstbridge, Javanica, and Icterohaemorrhagiae were the most frequently detected serogroups. The highest positivity rates were observed in Moodabidri (29%) and Sulya (27%) Taluks. Fever was the most common symptom, and the 30-39 age group had the highest prevalence (23%, p < 0.05). Seasonal peaks corresponded with monsoon months.
This study highlights the need for integrated diagnostics, including ELISA, MAT, and early molecular detection through PCR, to improve leptospirosis management during peak seasons. The findings support targeted interventions, such as water sanitation and rodent control, to reduce the burden in this region. Expanded surveillance of livestock, wildlife, and the environment is crucial for understanding reservoirs and contamination sources.
钩端螺旋体病是一种重要的人畜共患病，在印度卡纳塔克邦的南卡纳达地区仍然是一项重大的公共卫生挑战，尤其是在季风季节。
对2022 - 2023年期间印度卡纳塔克邦南卡纳达地区钩端螺旋体病进行时空分析，并调查发热疾病病例中钩端螺旋体抗体的血清群特异性分布。
使用商业酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）对3489份人类发热疾病病例的血清样本进行钩端螺旋体特异性IgM抗体筛查。1631份样本的子集采用显微镜凝集试验（MAT），使用一组代表17个血清群的20种血清型。此外，对一部分样本进行靶向lipL32基因的聚合酶链反应（PCR）以识别活动性感染。使用QGIS软件对血清阳性率和血清群分布进行空间绘图。
总体血清阳性率为（657/3489）19%。IgM ELISA在（593/3489）17%的病例中检测到抗体，而MAT确认血清阳性率为（154/1631）9%。在通过LipL32 PCR检测的80份样本中，13份（16%）呈阳性。贾西曼、赫斯特布里奇、爪哇型和出血性黄疸型是最常检测到的血清群。在穆达比德里（29%）和苏利亚（27%）行政区观察到最高阳性率。发热是最常见的症状，30 - 39岁年龄组患病率最高（23%，p < 0.05）。季节性高峰与季风月份相对应。
本研究强调需要综合诊断，包括ELISA、MAT以及通过PCR进行早期分子检测，以改善高峰季节的钩端螺旋体病管理。研究结果支持有针对性的干预措施，如水卫生和鼠类控制，以减轻该地区的负担。扩大对家畜·野生动物和环境监测对于了解宿主和污染源至关重要。
