Spatio-temporal analysis of leptospirosis incidence and its relationship with hydroclimatic indicators in northeastern Argentina

MARÍA SOLEDAD LÓPEZ; GABRIELA V. MÜLLER; MIGUEL A. LOVINO; ANDREA GÓMEZ; WALTER SIONE; LUIS ARAGONÉS

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2019

0048-9697

Leptospirosis is considered the most globally widespreadzoonotic illness; it has been classified as an emerging or reemerginginfectious disease by the World Health Organization. NortheasternArgentina accounts for the highest annual number of cases and deaths dueto leptospirosis of the country. This interdisciplinary study aims toanalyze the spatial and temporal distribution of leptospirosis, andassesses the hydroclimatic factors that give rise to the outbreaks innortheastern Argentina. The main goal is to detect the hydroclimaticindicators that can influence leptospirosis outbreaks occurrence in thenortheastern Argentina. We perform a spatio-temporal analysis of theleptospirosis in the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos to distinguishthe regions, years and seasons with the highest incidence of thisdisease. This study analyses confirmed cases of leptospirosis between2009 and 2018 years. Hydroclimatic indicators (monthly totalprecipitation, monthly river hydrometric level and Oceanic Niño Index)associated with outbreaks of leptospirosis vary in different spatialscales (provincial, departmental and cities). The number of cases wasalso decreasing over time although the hydroclimatic conditions were moreextreme at times. We associate this with a better prophylaxis of thedisease in the last floods. Therefore, this is a variable that should beincorporated in future studies.