Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Background: Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonotic infection worldwide, possibly due to climate change and demographic shifts. It is regarded as endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa; however, for most countries scarce epidemiological data, if any, exist. The primary objectives were to describe the prevalenc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2014-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971214015732 |
| _version_ | 1818937214593138688 |
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| author | Sophia G. de Vries Benjamin J. Visser Ingeborg M. Nagel Marga G.A. Goris Rudy A. Hartskeerl Martin P. Grobusch |
| author_facet | Sophia G. de Vries Benjamin J. Visser Ingeborg M. Nagel Marga G.A. Goris Rudy A. Hartskeerl Martin P. Grobusch |
| author_sort | Sophia G. de Vries |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonotic infection worldwide, possibly due to climate change and demographic shifts. It is regarded as endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa; however, for most countries scarce epidemiological data, if any, exist. The primary objectives were to describe the prevalence of leptospirosis in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and to develop options for prevention and control in the future.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa; the PRISMA guidelines were followed. Medline/PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, BIOSIS Previews, the African Index Medicus, AJOL, and Google Scholar were searched.
Results: Information about the prevalence and incidence of leptospirosis in humans is available, but remains scarce for many countries. Data are unavailable or outdated for many countries, particularly those in Central Africa. Most data are available from animals, probably due to the economic losses caused by leptospirosis in livestock. In humans, leptospirosis is an important cause of febrile illness in Sub-Saharan Africa. It concerns numerous serogroups, harboured by many different animal carriers.
Discussion: A wide variety of data was identified. Prevalence rates vary throughout the continent and more research, especially in humans, is needed to reliably gauge the extent of the problem. Preventive measures need to be reconsidered to control outbreaks in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:48:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01ff637f5bc043fcaf5f8d9bae26c3b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1201-9712 1878-3511 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:48:24Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-01ff637f5bc043fcaf5f8d9bae26c3b02022-12-21T19:51:15ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97121878-35112014-11-0128C476410.1016/j.ijid.2014.06.013Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic reviewSophia G. de Vries0Benjamin J. Visser1Ingeborg M. Nagel2Marga G.A. Goris3Rudy A. Hartskeerl4Martin P. Grobusch5Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DE, room F4-220, Amsterdam, NetherlandsCenter of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DE, room F4-220, Amsterdam, NetherlandsMedical Library, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, NetherlandsWHO/FAO/OIE and National Leptospirosis Reference Centre, KIT Biomedical Research, Amsterdam, NetherlandsWHO/FAO/OIE and National Leptospirosis Reference Centre, KIT Biomedical Research, Amsterdam, NetherlandsCenter of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DE, room F4-220, Amsterdam, NetherlandsBackground: Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonotic infection worldwide, possibly due to climate change and demographic shifts. It is regarded as endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa; however, for most countries scarce epidemiological data, if any, exist. The primary objectives were to describe the prevalence of leptospirosis in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and to develop options for prevention and control in the future. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa; the PRISMA guidelines were followed. Medline/PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, BIOSIS Previews, the African Index Medicus, AJOL, and Google Scholar were searched. Results: Information about the prevalence and incidence of leptospirosis in humans is available, but remains scarce for many countries. Data are unavailable or outdated for many countries, particularly those in Central Africa. Most data are available from animals, probably due to the economic losses caused by leptospirosis in livestock. In humans, leptospirosis is an important cause of febrile illness in Sub-Saharan Africa. It concerns numerous serogroups, harboured by many different animal carriers. Discussion: A wide variety of data was identified. Prevalence rates vary throughout the continent and more research, especially in humans, is needed to reliably gauge the extent of the problem. Preventive measures need to be reconsidered to control outbreaks in the future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971214015732LeptospirosisLeptospira interrogansSub-Saharan AfricaEpidemiologyWeil's disease |
| spellingShingle | Sophia G. de Vries Benjamin J. Visser Ingeborg M. Nagel Marga G.A. Goris Rudy A. Hartskeerl Martin P. Grobusch Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review International Journal of Infectious Diseases Leptospirosis Leptospira interrogans Sub-Saharan Africa Epidemiology Weil's disease |
| title | Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review |
| title_full | Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review |
| title_short | Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review |
| title_sort | leptospirosis in sub saharan africa a systematic review |
| topic | Leptospirosis Leptospira interrogans Sub-Saharan Africa Epidemiology Weil's disease |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971214015732 |
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