Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Survey on the prevalence of leptospira infections in the Italian population

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This investigation is the first nationwide survey on the circulation of leptospira infections in human beings in Italy. In nine out of twenty Italian regions, representative samples of the population were investigated for the presence of leptospira infections. Unexpectedly, leptospira infections were found to be widespread, the number of cases being much higher than the diagnosed clinical cases. There were found to be high, medium, and low risk areas. On the whole, the risk for the rural population was no higher than the risk for urban dwellers; leisure activities, contact with animals and residence on the plain versus residence in the hills were important risk factors. There was an unidentified risk factor in urbanites which was absent in the rural population. A changing pattern in infecting serovars was observed, with infections from serogroups Sejroe, Javanica and Australis prevailing over infections from the Icterohaemorrhagiae and Bataviae serogroups, which were the main agents of human leptospirosis during the 1950s. The mechanisms of these changes, the need for epidemiological surveys and improved diagnostic methods of screening are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cacciapuoti B, Nuti M, Pinto A. Human leptospirosis in Somalia: A serological survey. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg 1982; 76: 178–182.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hanson LE. Immunology of bacterial diseases with special references to leptospirosis. JAVA 1977; 170: 991–994.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Waitkins SA. The epidemiology of leptospirosis in Great Britain. Communication at the 4th Meeting of European Leptospira Workers, Berlin, 12–14 October 1983.

  4. Cacciapuoti B. Leptospiras as causative organisms of meningitis. Boll Ist Sieroter Milanese 1977; 56: 422–428.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ciceroni L, Pinto A, Cacciapuoti B. Recent trends of human leptospirosis in Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 1988; 4: 49–54.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cacciapuoti B, Vellucci A, Ciceroni L. Prevalence of leptospirosis in man: Pilot survey. Eur J Epidemiol 1987; 3: 137–142.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Coghlan JD, Norval J, Seiler HE. Canicola fever in man through contact with infected pigs. Br Med J 1957; 1: 257–261.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cacciapuoti B, Ciceroni L, Calegari L, et al. A water-borne outbreak of leptospirosis. Am J Epidemiol 1987; 126: 535–545.

    Google Scholar 

  9. WHO Expert Committee on Health Statistics. Sampling methods in morbidity surveys and public health investigations, 10th report. Geneva, World Health Organization, Technical Report Series, No. 336, 1966.

  10. Geigy JR, ed. Documenta Geigy: Tables scientifiques, 6th ed, 1963: 83–105.

  11. Dikken H, Kmety E. Serological typing methods of leptospiras. In: Bergan T, Norris JR, eds, Methods in microbiology. London: Academic Press, 1978; 11: 259–308.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Babudieri B. Laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis. Bull WHO 1961; 24: 45–58.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Galton MM. Methods in laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis. Ann NY Acad Sci 1962; 98: 675–685.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Turner LH. Leptospirosis, II: Serology. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg 1968; 62: 880–899.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ramadass P, Jarvis BDW, Corner RJ et al. Genetic characterization of phatogenicLeptospira species by DNA hybridization. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1992; 42: 215–219.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yasuda PH, Steigerwalt AG, Sulzer KR et al. Deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness between serogroups and serovars in the family Leptospiraceae with proposals for seven newLeptospira species. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1987; 37: 405–415.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Babudieri B. List of leptospira strains kept in the WHO-FAO Leptospira reference laboratory in Rome. Ann Ist Super Sanità 1972; 8: 159–196.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Magnarelli LA, Anderson R, Johnson RC. Cross-reactivity in serologic tests for Lyme disease and other spirochetal infections. J Infect Dis 1987; 156: 183–188.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Istituto Centrale di Statistica. Annuario di Statistiche Sanitarie, Vols 23–33. Roma: ISTAT, 1976–1985.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Draper N, Smith H. Applied regression analysis, 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ellis WA, O'Brien JJ, Neill SD, et al. Bovine leptospirosis: Serological findings in aborting cows. Veterinary Record 1982; 110: 178–180.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hart RJC, Gallagher J, Waitkins SA. An outbreak of leptospirosis in cattle and man. Br Med J 1984; 288: 1983–1984.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Shenberg E, Gerichter ChB, Lindenbaum I. Leptospirosis in man, Israel. Am J Epidemiol 1982; 115: 352–358.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Thiermann AB. Experimental leptospiral infections in pregnant cattle with organisms of the Hebdomadis serogroup. Am J Vet Res 1982; 43: 780–784.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Alston JM, Broom JC. Leptospirosis in man and animals. Edinburgh/London: Livingstone, 1958: 171–194.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Babudieri B. Epidemiology of leptospirosis in Italian ricefields. In: Advances in the control of zoonoses. WHO Monograph Series 1953; 19: 117–126.

  27. Babudieri B. Les leptospires et la leptospirose en Italie. Soc Med Ital 1957; 5: 657–700.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mino P. Ueber Leptospirosen bei den Arbeitern der Reisfelder Oberritaliens. Z Immunforsch 1939; 96: 466–485.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Borg-Petersen C. Experience of leptospirosis in Denmark. Proc R Soc Med 1949; 42: 714–723.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Salminen A. Studies on the occurrence of various leptospiral types in Finland. Ann Med Exp Fenn 1956; 34: suppl. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Mino P. Zur Epidemiologie der Leptospirosen. Klin Z 1942; 21: 337–344.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Fuhner F. Über die Bedeutung der Mitreaktionen artverschiedener Leptospirenantigene bei der Auswertung serologischer Leptospiroseergebnisse für Klinik und Praxis. Z Immunforsch 1951; 108: 278–287.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kmety E. Betrachtungen zum Problem der paradoxen Reaktion und deren Bedeutung in der Serodiagnostik einiger Leptospirosen. Zbl Bakt I Abt Orig 1957; 170: 597–609.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Cacciapuoti B. Co-antibodies in human leptospirosis. Boll Ist Sieroter Milanese 1976; 55: 495–509.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Birnbaum S, Shenberg E, Torten M. The influence of maternal antibodies on the epidemiology of leptospiral carrier state in mice. Am J Epidemiol 1972; 96: 313–317.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Ellis WA, Thiermann AB, Montgomery J Restriction endonuclease analysis ofLeptospira interrogans serovar hardjo isolates from cattle. Res Vet Sci 1988; 44: 375–379.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. G. Dettori

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, University of Parma Medical School, Parma, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Leptospirosis, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Viale Regina Elena 299, I-00161, Rome, Italy

    B. Cacciapuoti, L. Ciceroni & A. Pinto

  2. Microbiology and Immunology Service, Hospital Institution A. Pugliese, Catanzaro, Italy

    M. Apollini & V. Rondinella

  3. Microbiology Immunology and Virology Service, Hospital Institutes, Verona, Italy

    U. Bonomi & E. Benedetti

  4. Department of Microbiology, University of Trieste Medical School, Trieste, Italy

    M. Cinco

  5. Department of Hygiene, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy

    S. Dessì

  6. Department of Microbiology, Catholic University Medical School, Rome, Italy

    G. Dettori & R. Grillo

  7. Clinical Pathology Service, Hospital Institution, Palmanova, Italy

    R. Falomo

  8. Department of Medical Pathology, University of Palermo Medical School, Palermo, Italy

    S. Mansueto & D. Miceli

  9. Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy

    L. Marcuccio & C. Marcuccio

  10. Microbial Toxicological Medical Operative Unit, Pavia, Italy

    P. Pizzocaro

  11. Department of Microbiology, University of Cagliari Medical School, Cagliari, Italy

    M. L. Schivo

  12. Department of Microbiology, University of Ancona Medical School, Ancona, Italy

    E. Varaldo & R. Lupidi

  13. Department of Medical Parasitology, University of Messina Medical School, Messina, Italy

    A. Ioli

  14. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

    A. Marzolini & F. Rosmini

Authors
  1. B. Cacciapuoti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Ciceroni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Apollini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. V. Rondinella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. U. Bonomi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. E. Benedetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. M. Cinco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. S. Dessì
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. G. Dettori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. R. Grillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. R. Falomo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. S. Mansueto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. D. Miceli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. L. Marcuccio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. C. Marcuccio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. P. Pizzocaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. M. L. Schivo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. E. Varaldo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. R. Lupidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. A. Ioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. A. Marzolini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. F. Rosmini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cacciapuoti, B., Ciceroni, L., Pinto, A. et al. Survey on the prevalence of leptospira infections in the Italian population. Eur J Epidemiol 10, 173–180 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01730367

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01730367

Key words

Search

Navigation