Abstract

Objective: To determine epidemiological patterns of Leptospira spp. among slaughterhouse workers in Zanjan- Iran during 2011. Methods: 98 human blood samples collected from slaughterhouse workers in Zanjan province, in 2011. The serum samples were analyzed with the microagglutination test (MAT) in order to detect antibodies against Leptospira interrogans. Results: The results of this study showed that from 98 Samples, 34 Samples (34.7) were positive to different leptospiral sreovars. The lowest dilution that each serum was considered positive was 1:200. The most prevalent Leptospira serovars was Hardjo (47.8), Grippotyphosa(15.2), and the lowest belonged to serovar Sejro(4.3). Conclusions: Leptospirosis is a work-related disease and slaughterhouses' workers face a higher risk than other individuals in danger of contracting it which, in turn, leads to transmittance of the infection into the food and protein cycle. Early diagnosis of the disease could prevent its occurrences in these groups of workers. © 2012 Asian Pacific Tropical Medicine Press.