Some dates about leptospirosis in Albania and the role of gender predisposition in leptospirosis
Edmond Puca, Pellumb Pipero, Arjan Harxhi and Silvia Bino
University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Albania
Institute of Public Health, Albania
: J Immunol Tech Infect Dis
Abstract
Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic spirochetal disease of global importance especially in developing countries, which continues to have a major impact on public health. The incidence of the disease is much higher in males. Objectives: To describe the evidence regarding the role of gender in leptospirosis through a gender specific analysis of the clinical manifestations in patients diagnosed and treated for leptospirosis in our infectious diseases service during the 2006- 2015 period and to give some data about leptospirosis in Albania for the last ten years. Materials & Methodology: We reviewed the epidemiologic data, risk factors and differences in clinical presentation between male and female patients. Diagnosis was established based on clinical presentation subsequently confirmed serologically by anti-leptospira IgM antibodies through ELISA test. Results: From 2006-2015, 206 cases of confirmed leptospirosis were analysed. 185 (89.8%) were males and 21 patients (10.2%) were females. The highest incidence was observed in the 45-64 age groups. Overall mortality was found to be 7.7%. Mortality among female patients was 4.7%, whereas among males was 8.1%. Chi-square statistical analysis showed p value of 0.577045, demonstrating no statistical significance in mortality between two genders. Conclusions: There is a much higher incidence of leptospirosis in middle aged men. Mortality rate seems to be similar in males and female. While the difference in incidence may be related to exposure to risk factors, we believe that further investigations are necessary to study gender-based genetic and immunological predisposition.
Biography
Edmond Puca is an Infectious Diseases Specialist. His field of interest includes “Tropical infectious diseases, especially leptospirosis and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome”. He has published a lot of paper in this field. He is member of editorial board of some infectious diseases journals and the scientific secretary congress committee.
