Leptospira seroprevalence and associated risk factors among slaughterhouse workers in Western Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012700
- PMID
- 39661611
- PMCID
- PMC11633975
- OpenAlex
- W4405282367
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings identify slaughterhouse workers as a population in which leptospiral seropositivity was detected and describe occupational activities associated with seropositivity in this study. The authors state that leptospirosis may warrant further investigation among undifferentiated febrile illness cases with suspected occupational exposure and propose broader research to assess human and animal burden.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study assessed leptospiral antibody positivity among slaughterhouse workers in Western Bahr El Ghazal, South Sudan, examined associated factors, and described recent febrile illness among participants.
Study design
This was an observational study conducted from 27 February to 30 March 2023. Blood samples and interviews were collected from 250 consenting workers, and leptospiral antibodies were assessed using the microscopic agglutination test with a 12-serovar panel.
Population and setting
The participants were 250 slaughterhouse workers from the cattle slaughter facilities sampled in Western Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan.
Main findings
Sixteen of 250 workers had leptospiral antibodies, corresponding to 6.4% (95% CI 3.2-10.2), and two participants had titers interpreted in the abstract as indicative of probable recent infection. Seropositivity was statistically associated with flaying animals, wearing an apron or overall, and handling more carcasses per day. Among participants, 42.4% reported fever during the preceding month, while the abstract states that clinical evaluations had not considered leptospirosis.
Public-health relevance
The findings identify slaughterhouse workers as a population in which leptospiral seropositivity was detected and describe occupational activities associated with seropositivity in this study. The authors state that leptospirosis may warrant further investigation among undifferentiated febrile illness cases with suspected occupational exposure and propose broader research to assess human and animal burden.
Important limitations
The supplied evidence does not include an explicit limitations section. This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and bibliographic metadata; the original paper is required for decision-grade assessment of study limitations, methods, and interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
The article is discoverable in the supplied metadata under leptospirosis, diagnostics, One Health, vaccination, and South Sudan. Its context is a single study of occupational seropositivity and febrile illness at cattle slaughter facilities; it does not establish or confirm a current surveillance signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 12 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.