Objective.

To determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp and risk factors in medicine veterinary' students of a University in Tunja, Colombia.

Method.

The microscopic agglutination test was used with 13 leptospiral serovars in sera of 51 students. Epidemiological data and risk factors were collected through a survey.

Results.

Leptospira seroprevalence was 25.5% (IC95% 13,1 - 36,8). The average age of students was 26, 2 years; DE = 4.15). The prevalence was higher in men than in women (36.6% vs. 20%, p = 0.1306), being statistically the same. Reactivity to Leptospira serovars was 5.88% for Australis (serovar bratislava), Grippotyphosa (serovar Grippotyphosa), Sejroe (serovar Hardjo Prajitno), Pomona (serovar Pomona) y Tarassovi (serovar Tarassovi); and of 1.96% for Canicola (serovar Canicola), Icterohaemorragiae (serovar Copenhageni) y Shermani (serovar Shermani). It was found that working or having clinical practice during the six months prior to sampling represented 2.25 (0.1209 - 2.1342) times the risk for getting leptospirosis; and have had work accidents in the development of activities as field trips or in clinical practice represented 2.69 (0.6393 - 11.3892) times the risk for getting leptospirosis. Risk variables associated with seroprevalence were not significant (p = 0.05).

Conclusion.

According to the results, it is evident that the Leptospirosis is a disease of great importance and high recurrence in the department of Boyacá, mainly among the population working with animals, which is in constant occupational risk.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )