Data for the Paper: Human Leptospirosis in Sudan; Seroprevalence Study inHigh-Risk Geographic Area (Part-1)

Studies on the involvement of leptospires in human febrile illness or in renal disease are almost non-existing in Sudan. This study aims at assessing human exposure to pathogenic leptospires via detecting specific IgM seroprevalence within a population of febrile patients and those with end stage renal disease attending medical facilities in Al-Jazira agriculture state in Sudan. During five months period (April to September, 2014), total of 460 patients were recruited and tested for specific anti-leptospiral IgM antibodies using rapid lateral flow immunosorbent assay. Standardized structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant information. Data were analyzed using statistical package program IBM/SPSS version 21. Overall anti-leptospiral IgM seroprevalence was 10.2% (n=47/460). It was 14% (n=33/235) in febrile patients attending the outpatient of emergency hospitals/health center, 45.5% (n=5/11) in febrile inpatients in the internal medicine wards, and 4.2% (n=9/214) in those on hemodialysis. Seroprevalence was 0% (n=0/11) among healthy workers at Wad Madani slaughterhouse. Most frequent clinical manifestations were prostration (61.7%), arthralgia (51.1%), headache (46.8%) and myalgia (31.9%). This study demonstrates high leptospirosis seroprevalence in febrile attendees of hospitals and those on hemodialysis, suggesting high endemicity of the infection in Al-Jazira state in Sudan.