| dc.description.abstract | Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis of major health, veterinary and economic importance. The aim of this paper was to determine endemic areas of leptospirosis in the territory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, as well as the factors that contribute to its maintenance in these areas. Descriptive method was used. As a source of human data, we used the periodic reports of the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina for period 1990-2019. Veterinary data were obtained from the Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Scientific Veterinary Institute Novi Sad and Veterinary Specialized Institutes Sombor, Zrenjanin, Subotica and Pančevo.
Overall 368 cases of human leptospirosis were recorded during the thirty-year period in Vojvodina. The average annual incidence rate was 0.6/100.000 (range: 0.1-1.6/100.000). Leptospirosis was registered in all seven Vojvodina counties, with the highest incidence rate in West Bačka (1.5/100.000) and South Bačka County (1.1/100.000). An analysis of all three ten-year period individually (1990-1999, 2000-2009 and 2010-2019) also reveals the highest incidence rate in these two counties (South Bačka: 1.2/100.000, 1.2/100.000 and 0.8/100.000; West Bačka: 2.3/100.000, 1.4/100.000 and 0.8/100.000, respectively). During the period 2009-2018. The average annual seroprevalence of leptospirosis among domestic animals was 1% (range: 0.1- 3.7%). The highest seroprevalence was established in the South Bačka (3.7%) and West Bačka counties (1.2%).
Considering the occurrence of disease in humans and animals in the observed period, the South Bačka and West Bačka counties may be considered as endemic areas of leptospirosis in Vojvodina. Comparing to other counties, these two have more extensive network of canals, ditches, drains and Danube River arms. These waterways are either slow-flowing or stagnant, thus favouring the survival of leptospires in their waters or surrounding moist soil for long period of time, and therefore a higher risk of transmission of the infection to humans and animals. In the endemic areas, education of the population on avoiding bathing in potentially contaminated waters and wearing protective equipment in the case of occupational and recreational exposure should be carried out. | en_US |
