Leptospirosis in Aotearoa New Zealand: Protocol for a Nationwide Case-Control Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Aotearoa New Zealand, 90% of patients with notified leptospirosis (a zoonotic bacterial disease) have been men working in agricultural industries. However, since 2008, the epidemiology of notified cases has been gradually changing, that is, more women are affected; there are more cases associated with occupations traditionally not considered high risk in New Zealand; infecting serovars have changed; and many patients experience symptoms long after infection. We hypothesized that there is a shift in leptospirosis transmission patterns with substantial burden on affected patients and their families.

Objective

In this paper, we aimed to describe the protocols used to conduct a nationwide case-control study to update leptospirosis risk factors and follow-up studies

SUBMITTER: Nisa S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10288348 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature