Eco‐Epidemiological Study of Seropositivity Against Rickettsia and Leptospira Agents in Rural Areas of Urabá, Colombia
5 affiliations
- 1Grupo Epidemiología Universidad de Antioquia Medellín Colombia
- 2Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas Universidad de Antioquia Medellín Colombia
- 3Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA
- 4Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Brazilian Ministry of Health Salvador BA Brazil
- 5Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Veterinarias CENTAURO Universidad de Antioquia Medellín Colombia
Abstract
Introduction: Rickettsioses and leptospirosis are infectious diseases often underdiagnosed due to limited knowledge about their epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical aspects.
Objectives: To characterize the seroprevalence and seroincidence of Rickettsia and Leptospira agents and determine their associated factors in rural areas of Urabá, Antioquia, Colombia.
Methods: Analysis of seropositivity of a prospective study exploring sociocultural and ecological aspects of Rickettsia and Leptospira infection. A multinomial mixed logistic regression model analysed factors linked to seroprevalent cases, with descriptive analyses of seroincident cases.
Results: Concomitant seroprevalence against Rickettsia and Leptospira was 9.38% (95% CI: 6.08%–13.37%). Associated factors included age (ORa = 1.02; 95% CI 1.007–1.03), male gender (ORa = 3.06; 95% CI: 1.75–5.37), fever history (ORa = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.06–2.77), presence of breeding pigs (ORa = 2.29; 95% CI 1.36–3.88), peridomicile yucca crops (ORa = 2.5; 95% CI 1.1–5.62), and deforestation practices (ORa = 1.74; 95% CI 1.06–2.87). Concomitant seroincidence was 1.09% (3/274) (95% CI: 0.29%–4.05%). All seroincident cases were female, median age 31.83 years (IQR: 8.69–56.99), with similar housing characteristics (soil floors, wooden walls, zinc roofs) and exposure to domestic and synanthropic animals.
Conclusions: There is evidence of concomitant seroprevalent and seroincident cases against both microorganisms in rural Urabá, Colombia. These findings can improve public health surveillance systems in preventing, detecting, and managing clinical cases caused by these pathogens.
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BibTeX
@article{torresbustamante2026ecoepidemiological,
title = {{Eco‐Epidemiological Study of Seropositivity Against Rickettsia and Leptospira Agents in Rural Areas of Urabá, Colombia}},
author = {Mariana Torres‐Bustamante and Omar Cantillo‐Barraza and Albert I. Ko and Elsio A. Wunder and Juan C. Quintero‐Vélez},
journal = {Tropical Medicine \& International Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1111/tmi.70200},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.70200},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Eco‐Epidemiological Study of Seropositivity Against Rickettsia and Leptospira Agents in Rural Areas of Urabá, Colombia
AU - Mariana Torres‐Bustamante
AU - Omar Cantillo‐Barraza
AU - Albert I. Ko
AU - Elsio A. Wunder
AU - Juan C. Quintero‐Vélez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/05
JO - Tropical Medicine & International Health
DO - 10.1111/tmi.70200
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.70200
AB - Introduction: Rickettsioses and leptospirosis are infectious diseases often underdiagnosed due to limited knowledge about their epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical aspects. Objectives: To characterize the seroprevalence and seroincidence of Rickettsia and Leptospira agents and determine their associated factors in rural areas of Urabá, Antioquia, Colombia. Methods: Analysis of seropositivity of a prospective study exploring sociocultural and ecological aspects of Rickettsia and Leptospira infection. A multinomial mixed logistic regression model analysed factors linked to seroprevalent cases, with descriptive analyses of seroincident cases. Results: Concomitant seroprevalence against Rickettsia and Leptospira was 9.38% (95% CI: 6.08%–13.37%). Associated factors included age (ORa = 1.02; 95% CI 1.007–1.03), male gender (ORa = 3.06; 95% CI: 1.75–5.37), fever history (ORa = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.06–2.77), presence of breeding pigs (ORa = 2.29; 95% CI 1.36–3.88), peridomicile yucca crops (ORa = 2.5; 95% CI 1.1–5.62), and deforestation practices (ORa = 1.74; 95% CI 1.06–2.87). Concomitant seroincidence was 1.09% (3/274) (95% CI: 0.29%–4.05%). All seroincident cases were female, median age 31.83 years (IQR: 8.69–56.99), with similar housing characteristics (soil floors, wooden walls, zinc roofs) and exposure to domestic and synanthropic animals. Conclusions: There is evidence of concomitant seroprevalent and seroincident cases against both microorganisms in rural Urabá, Colombia. These findings can improve public health surveillance systems in preventing, detecting, and managing clinical cases caused by these pathogens.
SN - 1360-2276
SN - 1365-3156
ER -