Human leptospirosis in Slavonski Brod, 1995-2005

Leptospirosis is a worlwide spread zoonosis. During the 1995-2005 period, 54 patients with leptospirosis were recorded at the Institute of Public Health, Brod-Posavina County, yielding an incidence rate of 1.6-8.8 per 100,000 per year. One (1.85 %) patient died. There were 41 (76%) males. The age of leptospirosis patients ranged from 15 to 77 (mean 44) years. Forty-three (79.6 %) patients were from rural areas, and 17%. were farmers. The most frequent serotypes were: australis (20%), pomona (15%), saxkoebing (10%) and grippotyphosa (7%). Thirty-six (68.5%) leptospirosis cases were notified between July and October. A significant correlation (r = 0.77; P < 0.01; r2 = 59.3%) was found betwen the number of leptospirosis cases and average rainfall recorded one month prior to the diagnosis.