Case-control study of leptospirosis in Aotearoa New Zealand reveals behavioural, occupational, and environmental risk factors

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dc.citation.volume153
dc.contributor.authorNisa S
dc.contributor.authorOrtolani E
dc.contributor.authorVallée E
dc.contributor.authorMarshall J
dc.contributor.authorCollins-Emerson J
dc.contributor.authorYeung P
dc.contributor.authorPrinsen G
dc.contributor.authorWright J
dc.contributor.authorQuin T
dc.contributor.authorFayaz A
dc.contributor.authorLittlejohn S
dc.contributor.authorBaker MG
dc.contributor.authorDouwes J
dc.contributor.authorBenschop J
dc.contributor.editorHahné S
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-09T02:43:56Z
dc.date.available2025-06-09T02:43:56Z
dc.date.issued2025-06-02
dc.description.abstractLeptospirosis in NZ has historically been associated with male workers in livestock industries; however, the disease epidemiology is changing. This study identified risk factors amid these shifts. Participants (95 cases:300 controls) were recruited nationwide between 22 July 2019 and 31 January 2022, and controls were frequency-matched by sex (90% male) and rurality (65% rural). Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for sex, rurality, age, and season - with one model additionally including occupational sector - identified risk factors including contact with dairy cattle (aOR 2.5; CI: 1.0-6.0), activities with beef cattle (aOR 3.0; 95% CI: 1.1-8.2), cleaning urine/faeces from yard surfaces (aOR 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.3), uncovered cuts/scratches (aOR 4.6; 95% CI: 1.9-11.7), evidence of rodents (aOR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0-5.0), and work water supply from multiple sources - especially creeks/streams (aOR 7.8; 95% CI: 1.5-45.1) or roof-collected rainwater (aOR 6.6; 95% CI: 1.4-33.7). When adjusted for occupational sector, risk factors remained significant except for contact with dairy cattle, and slaughter without gloves emerged as a risk (aOR 3.3; 95% CI: 0.9-12.9). This study highlights novel behavioural factors, such as uncovered cuts and inconsistent glove use, alongside environmental risks from rodents and natural water sources.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.identifier.citationNisa S, Ortolani E, Vallée E, Marshall J, Collins-Emerson J, Yeung P, Prinsen G, Wright J, Quin T, Fayaz A, Littlejohn S, Baker MG, Douwes J, Benschop J. (2025). Case-control study of leptospirosis in Aotearoa New Zealand reveals behavioural, occupational, and environmental risk factors. Epidemiology and Infection. 153.
dc.identifier.doi10.1017/S0950268825100071
dc.identifier.eissn1469-4409
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn0950-2688
dc.identifier.numbere67
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/73012
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherCambridge University Press
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/casecontrol-study-of-leptospirosis-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-reveals-behavioural-occupational-and-environmental-risk-factors/A07E41B2B4D862647B0DACA7D903105F
dc.relation.isPartOfEpidemiology and Infection
dc.rights(c) 2025 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectLeptospirosis
dc.subjectZoonotic
dc.subjectRodent
dc.subjectLivestock
dc.subjectWater
dc.titleCase-control study of leptospirosis in Aotearoa New Zealand reveals behavioural, occupational, and environmental risk factors
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id501001
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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