Risk Factors and Prediction of Leptospiral Seropositivity Among Dogs and Dog Handlers in Malaysia

Soon Heng Goh, Rosnah Ismail, Seng Fong Lau, Puteri Azaziah Megat Abdul Rani, Taznim Begam Mohd Mohidin, Faiz Daud, Abdul Rani Bahaman, Siti Khairani-Bejo, Rozanaliza Radzi and Kuan Hua Khor
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Soon Heng Goh: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Rosnah Ismail: Occupational Health Unit, Community Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600 UKM, Malaysia
Seng Fong Lau: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Puteri Azaziah Megat Abdul Rani: Department of Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Taznim Begam Mohd Mohidin: Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Faiz Daud: Occupational Health Unit, Community Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600 UKM, Malaysia
Abdul Rani Bahaman: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Siti Khairani-Bejo: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Rozanaliza Radzi: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Kuan Hua Khor: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: This study determined the potential risk factors that may contribute to seropositivity among dogs and dog handlers from working dog and dog shelter institutions. Data was collected from dogs ( n = 266) and dog handlers ( n = 161) using a standardised guided questionnaire. Serum obtained from the dogs and dog handlers was tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). A logistic regression analysis was used to predict leptospiral seropositivity of dogs and dog handlers based on potential risk factors. A total of 22.2% of dogs and 21.7% of dog handlers were seropositive. The significant predictors for the dogs’ seropositivity were presence of rats (OR = 4.61 (95% CI: 1.05, 20.33), p = 0.043) and shared common area (OR = 5.12 (95% CI: 1.94, 13.46), p = 0.001) within the organisation. Significant predictor for dog handler seropositivity was contact time with the dogs of more than six hours/day (OR = 3.28 (95% CI: 1.28, 8.40), p = 0.013) after controlling for the effect of other risk factors such as small mammal contact, rat infestation at home, flooding at housing area (within three months) and urban locality. The exposure to various disease sources identified poses risk to dogs and dog handlers. Risk could be reduced with adequate application of protection at work while handling dogs and thus limiting contact with these sources and reducing exposure to infection.

Keywords: seroprevalence; MAT; leptospirosis; dog handlers; working dogs; shelter dog (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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