Serological evidence of high leptospira exposure among indigenous people (Orang Asli) in peninsular Malaysia using a recombinant antigen-based ELISA

Loong, Shih Keng and Khor, Chee Sieng and Chen, Hua Wei and Chao, Chien Chung and Ling, I.S.C. and Abdul Rahim, N.F. and Hassan, Hamimah and Nellis, S. and Ching, Wei Mei and AbuBakar, Sazaly (2018) Serological evidence of high leptospira exposure among indigenous people (Orang Asli) in peninsular Malaysia using a recombinant antigen-based ELISA. Tropical Biomedicine, 35 (1). pp. 1-9. ISSN 0127-5720,

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Official URL: http://msptm.org/files/Vol35No1/01-09-AbuBakar-S.p...

Abstract

The lifestyles of the indigenous people (Orang Asli) of Peninsular Malaysia who traditionally live close to the forest, put them at higher risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases. Leptospirosis has recently emerged as one of the most important diseases of public health concern. Here, we aimed to obtain a baseline data on the level of Leptospira exposure among the 107 Orang Asli volunteers using a recombinant antigen-based ELISA, previously shown to have sensitivity of ~90.0% in comparison to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Among the Orang Asli volunteers in this study, 60.7% had IgM against Leptospira and 57.9% were anti-Leptospira IgG positive. Of these seropositive individuals, 29.9% had both anti-Leptospira IgM and IgG antibodies. Age was found to be a significant predictor for exposure to Leptospira (P < 0.05) with the younger Orang Asli population more likely to be tested positive for anti-Leptospira IgM. The finding of high Leptospira exposure among the Orang Asli volunteers could be due to their socio-economic practices and dependency on the forest for their livelihood. The rapid and sensitive recombinant antigen-based ELISA used in the study, could possibly complement MAT for the epidemiological surveillance of leptospirosis, especially among the underserved populations.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Serological evidence; leptospira exposure; indigenous people (Orang Asli); peninsular Malaysia; recombinant antigen-based ELISA
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 29 May 2019 05:43
Last Modified: 29 May 2019 05:43
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/21397

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