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Leptospirosis in "Eco-Challenge" athletes, Malaysian Borneo, 2000

Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Jun;9(6):702-7. doi: 10.3201/eid0906.020751.

Abstract

Adventure travel is becoming more popular, increasing the likelihood of contact with unusual pathogens. We investigated an outbreak of leptospirosis in "Eco-Challenge" multisport race athletes to determine illness etiology and implement public health measures. Of 304 athletes, we contacted 189 (62%) from the United States and 26 other countries. Eighty (42%) athletes met our case definition. Twenty-nine (36%) case-patients were hospitalized; none died. Logistic regression showed swimming in the Segama River (relative risk [RR]=2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.3 to 3.1) to be an independent risk factor. Twenty-six (68%) of 38 case-patients tested positive for leptospiral antibodies. Taking doxycycline before or during the race was protective (RR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2 to 1.2) for the 20 athletes who reported using it. Increased adventure travel may lead to more frequent exposure to leptospires, and preexposure chemoprophylaxis for leptospirosis (200 mg oral doxycycline/week) may decrease illness risk. Efforts are needed to inform adventure travel participants of unique infections such as leptospirosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Fever / epidemiology
  • Fever / microbiology
  • Fresh Water / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Leptospira / genetics
  • Leptospira / isolation & purification
  • Leptospirosis / diagnosis
  • Leptospirosis / epidemiology*
  • Malaysia / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Sports
  • Travel*
  • Water Microbiology

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial