Anti-Leptospira Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Forestry Workers in Lower Saxony, North-West Germany.

As leptospirosis is re-emerging, a seroprevalence study was conducted, assessing the prevalence of anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies and infection-associated risk factors among forestry workers (FWs) in Lower Saxony, Germany, to develop targeted public health measures. Sera of 877 FWs, sampled in 2016, were tested for anti-Leptospira seropositivity by commercial IgG-ELISA. Data on demographics and Leptospira-specific exposures, knowledge, sources of information, and preventive measures were collected by standardized, self-administered questionnaire.

Identification of a 95 kDa putative adhesin from Actinomyces serovar WVA963 strain PK1259 that is distinct from type 2 fimbrial subunits.

The species Actinomyces serovar WVA963 is among the 20 bacteria most frequently isolated from human subgingival plaque. The interactions of this species with streptococci are inhibited by lactose, a function associated with type 2 fimbrial surface structures in Actinomyces naeslundii. Type 1 fimbriae mediate binding of cells to salivary proline-rich proteins.