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Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants and community residents in Springfield, Illinois, 1998.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Morgan, J; Bornstein, SL; Karpati, AM; Bruce, M; Bolin, CA; Austin, CC; Woods, CW; Lingappa, J; Langkop, C; Davis, B; Graham, DR; Proctor, M ...
Published in: Clin Infect Dis
June 15, 2002

We investigated an outbreak of leptospirosis among athletes and community residents after a triathlon was held in Springfield, Illinois. A telephone survey was conducted to collect clinical information and data on possible risk factors, community surveillance was established, and animal specimens and lake water samples were collected to determine the source of the leptospiral contamination. A total of 834 of 876 triathletes were contacted; 98 (12%) reported being ill. Serum samples obtained from 474 athletes were tested; 52 of these samples (11%) tested positive for leptospirosis. Fourteen (6%) of 248 symptomatic community residents tested positive for leptospirosis. Heavy rains that preceded the triathlon are likely to have increased leptospiral contamination of Lake Springfield. Among athletes, ingestion of 1 or more swallows of lake water was a predominant risk factor for illness. This is the largest outbreak of leptospirosis that has been reported in the United States. Health care providers and occupational and recreational users of bodies of freshwater in the United States should be aware of the risk of contracting leptospirosis, particularly after heavy rains.

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Published In

Clin Infect Dis

DOI

EISSN

1537-6591

Publication Date

June 15, 2002

Volume

34

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1593 / 1599

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Microbiology
  • Sports
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Leptospirosis
  • Leptospira
  • Illinois
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Morgan, J., Bornstein, S. L., Karpati, A. M., Bruce, M., Bolin, C. A., Austin, C. C., … Leptospirosis Working Group. (2002). Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants and community residents in Springfield, Illinois, 1998. Clin Infect Dis, 34(12), 1593–1599. https://doi.org/10.1086/340615
Morgan, Juliette, Shari L. Bornstein, Adam M. Karpati, Michael Bruce, Carole A. Bolin, Constance C. Austin, Christopher W. Woods, et al. “Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants and community residents in Springfield, Illinois, 1998.Clin Infect Dis 34, no. 12 (June 15, 2002): 1593–99. https://doi.org/10.1086/340615.
Morgan J, Bornstein SL, Karpati AM, Bruce M, Bolin CA, Austin CC, et al. Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants and community residents in Springfield, Illinois, 1998. Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Jun 15;34(12):1593–9.
Morgan, Juliette, et al. “Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants and community residents in Springfield, Illinois, 1998.Clin Infect Dis, vol. 34, no. 12, June 2002, pp. 1593–99. Pubmed, doi:10.1086/340615.
Morgan J, Bornstein SL, Karpati AM, Bruce M, Bolin CA, Austin CC, Woods CW, Lingappa J, Langkop C, Davis B, Graham DR, Proctor M, Ashford DA, Bajani M, Bragg SL, Shutt K, Perkins BA, Tappero JW, Leptospirosis Working Group. Outbreak of leptospirosis among triathlon participants and community residents in Springfield, Illinois, 1998. Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Jun 15;34(12):1593–1599.
Journal cover image

Published In

Clin Infect Dis

DOI

EISSN

1537-6591

Publication Date

June 15, 2002

Volume

34

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1593 / 1599

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Microbiology
  • Sports
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Leptospirosis
  • Leptospira
  • Illinois
  • Humans
  • Female