Unravelling of Leptospirosis in the Humid Subtropical Climate of the Eastern Part of Northern India.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- 2Department of Development Research, Clinical Studies and Trial Unit, ICMR, New Delhi, India.
- 3Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- 4Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Abstract
Introduction
Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira spirochetes and remains a significant public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions of India. The humid subtropical climate of Eastern Uttar Pradesh favors its transmission.Methods
To assess the occurrence, demographic characteristics, seasonal trends, and epidemiological distribution of leptospirosis in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2430 clinically suspected cases. Serum samples were tested for Leptospira-specific IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic details, occupational exposure, seasonal variation, and district-wise distribution were analyzed.Results
Of 2430 suspected cases, 550 (22.6%) were IgM positive. Gender distribution was nearly equal (49.4% males; 50.5% females). The highest prevalence was observed in males aged 11-20 years and females aged 21-40 years, with overall higher positivity in the 11-30 years age group. Seasonal peaks occurred in October among males and November among females, correlating with monsoon and post-monsoon periods. Housewives, farmers, and students showed higher positivity rates, indicating domestic and agricultural risk factors. Cases were reported from 16 districts, with the highest positivity in Deoria (33.3%), Prayagraj (31.2%), and Azamgarh (23.6%). Increased seroprevalence was noted among residents living along the River Ganga in Varanasi.Conclusion
Leptospirosis is endemic in Eastern Uttar Pradesh with significant seasonal and occupational associations. Enhanced surveillance, early diagnosis, and targeted preventive strategies are essential to reduce disease burden in this subtropical region.
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BibTeX
@article{kumar2026unravelling,
title = {{Unravelling of Leptospirosis in the Humid Subtropical Climate of the Eastern Part of Northern India.}},
author = {Manoj Kumar and Deepak Kumar and Sudhir Kumar Singh and Alka Shukla and Mayank Gangwar and Ranjeet Kumar Vishwakarma and Ashish R Singh and Sonam Rastogi and Akshay Kumar and Pradyot Prakash and Gopal Nath},
journal = {Journal of global infectious diseases},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/jgid.jgid_244_25},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899296},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Unravelling of Leptospirosis in the Humid Subtropical Climate of the Eastern Part of Northern India.
AU - Manoj Kumar
AU - Deepak Kumar
AU - Sudhir Kumar Singh
AU - Alka Shukla
AU - Mayank Gangwar
AU - Ranjeet Kumar Vishwakarma
AU - Ashish R Singh
AU - Sonam Rastogi
AU - Akshay Kumar
AU - Pradyot Prakash
AU - Gopal Nath
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of global infectious diseases
DO - 10.4103/jgid.jgid_244_25
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899296
AB - Introduction Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira spirochetes and remains a significant public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions of India. The humid subtropical climate of Eastern Uttar Pradesh favors its transmission.Methods To assess the occurrence, demographic characteristics, seasonal trends, and epidemiological distribution of leptospirosis in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2430 clinically suspected cases. Serum samples were tested for Leptospira-specific IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic details, occupational exposure, seasonal variation, and district-wise distribution were analyzed.Results Of 2430 suspected cases, 550 (22.6%) were IgM positive. Gender distribution was nearly equal (49.4% males; 50.5% females). The highest prevalence was observed in males aged 11-20 years and females aged 21-40 years, with overall higher positivity in the 11-30 years age group. Seasonal peaks occurred in October among males and November among females, correlating with monsoon and post-monsoon periods. Housewives, farmers, and students showed higher positivity rates, indicating domestic and agricultural risk factors. Cases were reported from 16 districts, with the highest positivity in Deoria (33.3%), Prayagraj (31.2%), and Azamgarh (23.6%). Increased seroprevalence was noted among residents living along the River Ganga in Varanasi.Conclusion Leptospirosis is endemic in Eastern Uttar Pradesh with significant seasonal and occupational associations. Enhanced surveillance, early diagnosis, and targeted preventive strategies are essential to reduce disease burden in this subtropical region.
SN - 0974-777X
SN - 0974-8245
ER -