ArticleInfectious diseases of poverty2025
Changing epidemiology of leptospirosis in China from 1955 to 2022.
Article in Infectious diseases of poverty, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Temporal epidemiology and multi-source forecasting of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and leptospirosis in mainland China: An interpretable machine learning study.Preventive medicine reports · 2026Article
- Epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis and serological surveillance among reservoir animals and healthy populations in Fujian, China, 2004-2024.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Human leptospirosis in northern Iran: a population-based epidemiological study using infectious disease surveillance system data.BMC research notes · 2025Article
- Correction: Changing epidemiology of leptospirosis in China from 1955 to 2022.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2025Article
- Zoonotic diseases in China: epidemiological trends, incidence forecasting, and comparative analysis between real-world surveillance data and Global Burden of Disease 2021 estimates.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2025Article
- Vulnerability characteristics and adaptation strategies of public health systems in different regions of China.Frontiers in public health · 2025Review
- Seroprevalence and Molecular Epidemiology ofTransboundary and emerging diseases · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
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14 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundLeptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira, is an important public health concern globally. Leptospirosis has been notifiable under statute in China since 1955, and its epidemiological characteristics have evolved during near 70 years. This study aimed to describe the spatial and temporal patterns and demographic characteristics of leptospirosis from 1955 to 2022 in China, and explore the possible factors that influence leptospirosis transmission risk.
methodsWavelet time series analysis, global Moran's I coefficients, space-time scanning statistics, and so on were used to analyze temporal, seasonal, geographic, and demographic trends in leptospirosis using reported national surveillance data from Chinese mainland from 1955 to 2022. Additionally, a Bayesian spatiotemporal model was used in a preliminary analysis to explore potential factors associated with leptospirosis occurrence.
resultsBetween 1955 and 2022, China reported 25,236,601 leptospirosis cases, with 91% occurring from July to October. The annual incidence rate peaked at 38.28/100,000 during outbreaks in the 1960s-1980s but stabilized at a low level (0.07/100,000) between 2005 and 2022, with over 99% of cases in southern China. Clustering increased over time, being greatest during the period 2015-2022 (Moran's I = 0.41, P < 0.01). Space-time cluster analysis indicated that the most likely clusters were in northern provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) from 1955 to 1984, in southern PLADs from 1985 to 2022. The main identified risk factors of leptospirosis occurrence were annual average precipitation (3.68, 95% CI: 2.50 to 5.12), GDP per capita (-3.70, 95% CI: - 5.97 to - 1.41), and the total power of agricultural machinery (- 2.51, 95% CI: - 3.85 to - 1.17).
conclusionsOver past 70 years, leptospirosis in China has occurred as significant outbreaks but has ultimately declined to stable, low levels of occurrence. However, a clear north-south disparity persists, with tropical and subtropical regions in southern China remaining high-risk areas. The nearly 70-year dataset underscores the complex interplay of climate and socioeconomic factors influencing the disease's occurrence. Targeted prevention and control measures are critical to prevent outbreaks, especially in regions prone to extreme climatic events like heavy rainfall and floods, which may signal the resurgence of leptospirosis.
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