Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil
IntroductionHomelessness has been considered one of the most vulnerable situations worldwide, alongside people private of liberty (incarceration) and country displacement (refugees). Structural inequality and exposure to diseases such as leptospirosis may be aggravated by individual issues including...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596684/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849321247993757696 |
|---|---|
| author | Haroldo Greca Junior Cassiana Dahlke Machado Louise Bach Kmetiuk Danilo Alves de França Nassarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues Anahi Chechia do Couto Helio Langoni Gustavo Monti Alexander Welker Biondo |
| author_facet | Haroldo Greca Junior Cassiana Dahlke Machado Louise Bach Kmetiuk Danilo Alves de França Nassarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues Anahi Chechia do Couto Helio Langoni Gustavo Monti Alexander Welker Biondo |
| author_sort | Haroldo Greca Junior |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionHomelessness has been considered one of the most vulnerable situations worldwide, alongside people private of liberty (incarceration) and country displacement (refugees). Structural inequality and exposure to diseases such as leptospirosis may be aggravated by individual issues including drug addiction, mental disorders and improper healthcare.MethodsThe present study has accessed persons experiencing homelessness to Leptospira spp. exposure by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for 30 serovars. This study was conducted in São Paulo city in southeastern Brazil and São José dos Pinhais city, belonging the eighth biggest metropolitan area of Brazil in Southern region.ResultsIn total, 21/243 (8.6%; 95% CI = 5.6–13.1%) persons experiencing homelessness were seropositive in the MAT. Location, condom use, and flea infestations were identified as statistically significant associated risk factors for exposure.DiscussionThe presence of multiple Leptospira spp. serovars may indicate bacterial diversity, even in urban settings. The results herein found for persons experiencing homelessness were not a surprise, as Brazil has been historically recognized as an endemic country for leptospirosis, with 3,810 leptospirosis cases on average per year and the majority living in densely populated urban areas. Multidisciplinary efforts and integrated policies may be crucial to mitigate leptospirosis and other infectious diseases in persons experiencing homelessness, as social neglection may impact on their fundamental rights to dignity and access to personal health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5c5cbde92ea4435d9727aae2df781f50 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-5c5cbde92ea4435d9727aae2df781f502025-08-20T03:49:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15966841596684Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in BrazilHaroldo Greca Junior0Cassiana Dahlke Machado1Louise Bach Kmetiuk2Danilo Alves de França3Nassarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues4Anahi Chechia do Couto5Helio Langoni6Gustavo Monti7Alexander Welker Biondo8Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, BrazilCity Secretary of Health, Curitiba, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, BrazilQuantitative Veterinary Epidemiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, BrazilIntroductionHomelessness has been considered one of the most vulnerable situations worldwide, alongside people private of liberty (incarceration) and country displacement (refugees). Structural inequality and exposure to diseases such as leptospirosis may be aggravated by individual issues including drug addiction, mental disorders and improper healthcare.MethodsThe present study has accessed persons experiencing homelessness to Leptospira spp. exposure by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for 30 serovars. This study was conducted in São Paulo city in southeastern Brazil and São José dos Pinhais city, belonging the eighth biggest metropolitan area of Brazil in Southern region.ResultsIn total, 21/243 (8.6%; 95% CI = 5.6–13.1%) persons experiencing homelessness were seropositive in the MAT. Location, condom use, and flea infestations were identified as statistically significant associated risk factors for exposure.DiscussionThe presence of multiple Leptospira spp. serovars may indicate bacterial diversity, even in urban settings. The results herein found for persons experiencing homelessness were not a surprise, as Brazil has been historically recognized as an endemic country for leptospirosis, with 3,810 leptospirosis cases on average per year and the majority living in densely populated urban areas. Multidisciplinary efforts and integrated policies may be crucial to mitigate leptospirosis and other infectious diseases in persons experiencing homelessness, as social neglection may impact on their fundamental rights to dignity and access to personal health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596684/fullleptospirosisseroprevalencehomeless populationsrisk factorsmicroscopic agglutination test |
| spellingShingle | Haroldo Greca Junior Cassiana Dahlke Machado Louise Bach Kmetiuk Danilo Alves de França Nassarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues Anahi Chechia do Couto Helio Langoni Gustavo Monti Alexander Welker Biondo Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil Frontiers in Public Health leptospirosis seroprevalence homeless populations risk factors microscopic agglutination test |
| title | Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil |
| title_full | Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil |
| title_short | Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil |
| title_sort | factors associated with the presence of anti leptospira spp antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in brazil |
| topic | leptospirosis seroprevalence homeless populations risk factors microscopic agglutination test |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596684/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haroldogrecajunior factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT cassianadahlkemachado factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT louisebachkmetiuk factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT daniloalvesdefranca factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT nassarahjaburlotrodrigues factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT anahichechiadocouto factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT heliolangoni factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT gustavomonti factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil AT alexanderwelkerbiondo factorsassociatedwiththepresenceofantileptospirasppantibodiesinpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinbrazil |