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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Urban leptospirosis in Africa: A cross-sectional survey of Leptospira infection in rodents in the Kibera urban settlement, Nairobi, Kenya
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 89, No. 6, Year 2013
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Description
Leptospirosis is a widespread but under-reported cause of morbidity and mortality. Global re-emergence of leptospirosis has been associated with the growth of informal urban settlements in which rodents are thought to be important reservoir hosts. Understanding the multi-host epidemiology of leptospirosis is essential to control and prevent disease. A cross-sectional survey of rodents in the Kibera settlement in Nairobi, Kenya was conducted in September-October 2008 to demonstrate the presence of pathogenic leptospires. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that 41 (18.3%) of 224 rodents carried pathogenic leptospires in their kidneys, and sequence data identified Leptospira interrogans and L. kirschneri in this population. Rodents of the genus Mus (37 of 185) were significantly more likely to be positive than those of the genus Rattus (4 of 39; odds ratio = 15.03). Questionnaire data showed frequent contact between humans and rodents in Kibera. This study emphasizes the need to quantify the public health impacts of this neglected disease at this and other urban sites in Africa. Copyright © 2013 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Authors & Co-Authors
Halliday, Jo E.B.
Unknown Affiliation
Knobel, Darryn L.
Unknown Affiliation
Allan, Kathryn J.
Unknown Affiliation
Bronsvoort, Mark D.C.
Unknown Affiliation
Handel, Ian Graham
Unknown Affiliation
Agwanda, Bernard Risky
Unknown Affiliation
Cutler, Sally Jane
Unknown Affiliation
Olack, Beatrice
Unknown Affiliation
Ahmed, Ahmed
Unknown Affiliation
Hartskeerl, Rudy A.
Unknown Affiliation
Njenga, Moses Kariuki
Unknown Affiliation
Cleaveland, Sarah C.
Unknown Affiliation
Breiman, Robert F.
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 53
Authors: 13
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.4269/ajtmh.13-0415
ISSN:
00029637
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Case-Control Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Kenya