{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]],"date-time":"2026-10-04T03:48:43Z","timestamp":1791085723328,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"8","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Occup Environ Med"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1995,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>OBJECTIVES--This study compared the prevalence of Leptospira interrogans and hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in serum samples from sewer workers and controls. METHODS--A blood sample was obtained from 76 of the 101 municipal sewer workers (75%) of Quebec City and from two controls matched to each for age and sex. Testing was done for antibodies against serovars of Leptospira icterohaemorragiae, bratislava, hardjo, grippotyphosa, and kennewicki (pomona) and hepatitis A. RESULTS--Sewer workers had a greater prevalence of antibodies against leptospirosis than controls (12% v 2%, P = 0.003). In contrast, antibodies to HAV were not significantly more prevalent among workers than among controls (54% v 49%, P = 0.51). Prevalence of HAV antibodies increased significantly with age both among workers and controls (chi 2 for trend, P &lt; 0.001). In contrast with younger workers, prevalence of HAV antibodies was greater among workers &gt; or = 40 years than among their controls (81% v 65%, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION--Leptospirosis continues to be a problem to sewer workers but hepatitis A is apparently no longer a risk. The likely explanation is that leptospira are still abundant in the sewage system in contrast with HAV, which is only rarely to be found in sewage as a result of the generalised decrease in incidence of hepatitis A in the past three decades. The decision to vaccinate sewer workers against hepatitis A should take into account that it is impossible to avoid all contact with sewage fluid and, despite the fact that the actual incidence of hepatitis A is low, there is a real possibility of sporadic exposure during a future outbreak.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/oem.52.8.505","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2008,12,17]],"date-time":"2008-12-17T00:14:48Z","timestamp":1229472888000},"page":"505-507","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":31,"title":["Need for vaccination of sewer workers against leptospirosis and hepatitis A."],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"52","author":[{"given":"G","family":"De Serres","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B","family":"Levesque","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R","family":"Higgins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M","family":"Major","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"D","family":"Lalibert\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"N","family":"Boulianne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B","family":"Duval","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1995,8,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"2019","article-title":"Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety 1983; 2","author":"Sewers, Bell J.H.","unstructured":"Bell JH. Sewers. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety 1983;2:2019-21."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"10","article-title":"Weil's disease among sewer workers in London","author":"N, Hamilton Fairley","year":"1934","unstructured":"Hamilton Fairley N. Weil's disease among sewer workers in London. BMJ7 1934;10-4."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"721","article-title":"Leptospirosis as an occupational disease","volume":"43","author":"Waitkins, S.A.","year":"1986","unstructured":"Waitkins SA. Leptospirosis as an occupational disease. BrJ Ind Med 1986;43:721-5.","journal-title":"BrJ Ind Med"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1080\/00039896.1981.10667618","article-title":"Infectious liver diseases in three groups of Copenhagen workers: correlation of hepatitis A infection to sewage exposure","volume":"36","author":"FB, Skinhoj P.Hollinger; K, Hovind-Haugen; P, Lous","year":"1981","unstructured":"Skinhoj P. Hollinger FB, Hovind-Haugen K, Lous P. Infectious liver diseases in three groups of Copenhagen workers: correlation of hepatitis A infection to sewage exposure. Arch Environ Health 1981;36:139-43.","journal-title":"Arch Environ Health"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.70.2.167","article-title":"An epidemiologic study of the relationship between hepatitis A and water supply characteristics and treatment","volume":"70","year":"1980","unstructured":"Batik 0, Craun GF, Tuthill RW, Kraemer DF. An epidemiologic study of the relationship between hepatitis A and water supply characteristics and treatment. Am J Public Health 1980;70:167-8.","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"13","article-title":"Serological diagnosis of leptospirosis in the Province of Quebec","volume":"19","author":"Higgins, R.; Cayouette, P.","year":"1978","unstructured":"Higgins R, Cayouette P. Serological diagnosis of leptospirosis in the Province of Quebec. Canadian Veterinary Journal 1978;19:13-6.","journal-title":"Canadian Veterinary Journal"},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"70","article-title":"Leptospiral serovars in Canada","volume":"29","author":"Kingscote, B.F.","year":"1988","unstructured":"Kingscote BF. Leptospiral serovars in Canada. Canadian Veterinary Journal 1988;29:70-1.","journal-title":"Canadian Veterinary Journal"},{"key":"ref_8","article-title":"Leptospira and leptospirosis","author":"Faine, S.","year":"1993","unstructured":"Faine S. Leptospira and leptospirosis. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1993."},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"83","article-title":"The magnitude and duration of titres of leptospiral agglutinins in human sera","volume":"97","author":"Blackmore, D.K.; Schollum, L.M.; Moriarty, K.M.","year":"1984","unstructured":"Blackmore DK, Schollum LM, Moriarty KM. The magnitude and duration of titres of leptospiral agglutinins in human sera. 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