Leptospirosis among river water rafters in Satoon, southern Thailand.

OBJECTIVE

To assess epidemiology and risk factors for leptospirosis infection among the rafting participants in southern Thailand.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prospective observation of the patients who participated in rafting in southern Thailand was conducted between January and December 2010. Demographic, clinical data as well as potential risk factors were collected Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for specific leptospirosis IgG detection were examined immediately after rafting and two to three weeks after first samples. Microagglutination Test (MAT) was performed to confirm diagnosis in cases with seroconversion.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty eight rafting participants enrolled to the present study of which 150 complied with the protocol and were analyzed Eleven patients had serological evidence of leptospirosis infection accounting for 7.3% while only three patients were symptomatic. Various serovars are responsible for infection while serovar Icterohemorrhagiae is most common. Persistence of abrasion wound/laceration wound were likely to be risk factors for infection with p < 0.05.

CONCLUSION

The laboratory findings in the present study demonstrated that leptospirosis was associated with rafting and a contaminated environment.