Table 1.
Characteristics of the study subjects according to serologic evidence for prior Leptospira infection
| Characteristic | Seropositive | Seronegative | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||||
| Responses | No. (%) or mean (SD) | Responses | No. (%) or mean (SD) | ||
| Age (years) | 44 | 26.0 (19) | 246 | 28.7 (19) | 0.40 |
| Male gender | 44 | 25 (57) | 246 | 125 (51) | 0.56 |
| Time of residence (years) | 43 | 245 | |||
| 0.5–3 | 8 (22) | 28 (78) | 0.28 | ||
| >3 | 35 (14) | 217 (88) | |||
| Farming activities | |||||
| Rice cultivation | 246 | 21 (47) | 44 | 106 (43) | 0.68 |
| Sugar cane production | 245 | 2 (5) | 44 | 27 (11) | 0.27 |
| Subsistence farminga | 245 | 34 (77) | 44 | 191 (78) | 0.92 |
| Animal exposure | |||||
| Raising cattle | 246 | 27 (61) | 44 | 152 (62) | 0.96 |
| Raising sheep | 246 | 9 (20.4) | 44 | 58 (23.5) | 0.79 |
| Sighting of rats in the household | 243 | 37 (84) | 44 | 209 (86) | 0.92 |
| Sighting of `red' rats in cultivation areas | 239 | 10 (23) | 44 | 79 (33) | 0.23 |
| Dogs in the domicile | 243 | 20 (45) | 44 | 103 (42) | 0.83 |
| Use of protective footwear while farmingb | 203 | 20 (59) | 34 | 120 (59) | 0.87 |
| Recreation activities | |||||
| Swimming in ponds | 239 | 22 (54) | 41 | 135 (56) | 0.86 |
| Playing in rice fieldsc | 55 | 7 (64) | 11 | 18 (33) | 0.08 |
a
Engaged in cultivation of beans, corn and manioc.
b
Analyses were performed for the 246 individuals who engaged in farming activities and provided responses.
c
Analysis was performed for children <15 years old.