Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago

The study compared the serological evidence of leptospirosis in 212 students in four schools (veterinary, dental, advanced nursing education and pharmacy) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), by testing for IgG immunoglobulins to Leptospira spp. using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EL...

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Main Authors: Ambrose James, Kingsley Siele, Neeka Harry, Sharianne Suepaul, Alva Stewart-Johnson, Abiodun Adesiyun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/719049
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author Ambrose James
Kingsley Siele
Neeka Harry
Sharianne Suepaul
Alva Stewart-Johnson
Abiodun Adesiyun
author_facet Ambrose James
Kingsley Siele
Neeka Harry
Sharianne Suepaul
Alva Stewart-Johnson
Abiodun Adesiyun
author_sort Ambrose James
collection DOAJ
description The study compared the serological evidence of leptospirosis in 212 students in four schools (veterinary, dental, advanced nursing education and pharmacy) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), by testing for IgG immunoglobulins to Leptospira spp. using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Overall, of 212 students tested by the ELISA, 12 (5.7%) and 31 (14.6%) were positive and borderline, respectively. Amongst the 113 veterinary students 11 (9.7%) and 19 (16.8%) were seropositive and borderline respectively compared with nonveterinary students with corresponding values of 1 (1.0%) and 12 (12.1%). The frequency of serological evidence of leptospirosis by the ELISA was statistically significantly (; ) higher in veterinary students, 26.5% (30 of 113) than in nonveterinary students, 13.1% (13 of 99). By the MAT, the seropositivity for leptospirosis was similar for veterinary students, 7.1% (8 of 113) and nonveterinary students, 7.1% (7 of 99). For veterinary students, the prevalent infecting serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae Copenhageni while amongst nonveterinary students, the prevalent serovar was Australis Rachmati. Being a veterinary student was the only risk factor that was significantly associated with Leptospira infection indicating that veterinary students need to be cognizant and to practise preventive measures for leptospirosis.
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spelling doaj-art-16f09bb9f2164e57ba4ae70b72b92a8f2025-08-20T02:04:53ZengWileyInterdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases1687-708X1687-70982013-01-01201310.1155/2013/719049719049Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and TobagoAmbrose James0Kingsley Siele1Neeka Harry2Sharianne Suepaul3Alva Stewart-Johnson4Abiodun Adesiyun5School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoThe study compared the serological evidence of leptospirosis in 212 students in four schools (veterinary, dental, advanced nursing education and pharmacy) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), by testing for IgG immunoglobulins to Leptospira spp. using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Overall, of 212 students tested by the ELISA, 12 (5.7%) and 31 (14.6%) were positive and borderline, respectively. Amongst the 113 veterinary students 11 (9.7%) and 19 (16.8%) were seropositive and borderline respectively compared with nonveterinary students with corresponding values of 1 (1.0%) and 12 (12.1%). The frequency of serological evidence of leptospirosis by the ELISA was statistically significantly (; ) higher in veterinary students, 26.5% (30 of 113) than in nonveterinary students, 13.1% (13 of 99). By the MAT, the seropositivity for leptospirosis was similar for veterinary students, 7.1% (8 of 113) and nonveterinary students, 7.1% (7 of 99). For veterinary students, the prevalent infecting serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae Copenhageni while amongst nonveterinary students, the prevalent serovar was Australis Rachmati. Being a veterinary student was the only risk factor that was significantly associated with Leptospira infection indicating that veterinary students need to be cognizant and to practise preventive measures for leptospirosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/719049
spellingShingle Ambrose James
Kingsley Siele
Neeka Harry
Sharianne Suepaul
Alva Stewart-Johnson
Abiodun Adesiyun
Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
title Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago
title_full Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago
title_fullStr Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago
title_full_unstemmed Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago
title_short Serological Evidence of Exposure to Leptospira spp. in Veterinary Students and Other University Students in Trinidad and Tobago
title_sort serological evidence of exposure to leptospira spp in veterinary students and other university students in trinidad and tobago
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/719049
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