Original scientific paper
The effects of climate elements on the incidence of leptospirosis in Brod – Posavina County
Božana Miklaušić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0803-8906
; OB "Dr. Josip Benčević", Slavonski Brod, Hrvatska
Nenad Pandak
orcid.org/0000-0002-4379-6219
; OB "Dr. Josip Benčević", Slavonski Brod, Hrvatska
Ivica Čabraja
; OB "Dr. Josip Benčević", Slavonski Brod, Hrvatska
Marijan Šiško
; OB "Dr. Josip Benčević", Slavonski Brod, Hrvatska
Abstract
Leptospirosis is one of the world's most widespread zoonosis caused by the spirochete Leptospira spp. Croatia is 13th in the world but also the first in Europe with 17.3 registered patients among 1000000 inhabitants. Brod –Posavina County (BP County) according to its geographical position and natural environment is classified as an endemic area for leptospirosis.
Aim. To examine the impact of rainfall, humidity and air temperature on the incidence of leptospirosis.
Methods. Data from the state Meteorological and Hydrological Service about rainfall, humidity and air temperature during the period from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed according to the quarterly season periods. The number of patients with leptospirosis who were treated in the same period at the General Hospital, Department for Infectious Diseases in Slavonski Brod were also analyzed.
Results. In the period from 2010 to 2015, 58 patients were hospitalized because of suspected leptospirosis. From the total of 58 patients, in 39 patients (67%) serological tests confirmed a significant increase in antibody titer in endemic areas (≥1: 500). Patients were mostly male (86%) and were more likely to live in rural areas or the suburbia (72%) than in urban environment. The most common were the patients with mean age of 31–65 years (59%) compared to patients who were younger than 30 years (13%) and over 65 (11%). The youngest patient was 16 and the oldest was 78. The disease was very severe in 31 patients (53%), and 2 patients (3%) died. The highest amount of rainfall was recorded in 2010 (974.5 mm), during spring time period from April to June. In 2014, the total amount of rainfall was higher than the annual average (962.9 mm), which caused a great flood. That same year, after the floods in the spring, greater rainfall than the yearly average was recorded in the summer period from July to September, when the highest number of leptospirosis cases was recorded.
Conclusion. Rainfall affects the higher incidence of leptospirosis in humans, but only if greater amount of rainfall happens during the summer season. Floods and increased rainfall during the summer can lead to an epidemic of leptospirosis. It is not proven that the mean air temperature and humidity have an effect on the incidence of leptospirosis in humans.
Keywords
Leptospirosis; rainfall; floods
Hrčak ID:
153795
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2015.
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