The burden of opisthorchiasis and leptospirosis in Thailand: A nationwide syndemic analysis

Opisthorchiasis, caused by the foodborne trematode parasite Opisthorchis viverrini, is co-endemic with leptospirosis in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Socio-economic determinants, occupational risk factors, and reservoir hosts interact with the diseases in the threat to human health, but the situation has not been explored. We, therefore, studied the interaction between the diseases and their associated risks using a syndemic approach with nationwide data for Thailand. Methods included Bayesian mapping, principal component analysis (PCA), and nested correlation analysis to analyze the data for 2009 and 2014. Bayesian mapping demonstrates that opisthorchiasis acts in a synergistic manner to massively alter the risk of leptospirosis at the provincial level, particularly in areas of opisthorchiasis endemicity in Northeast Thailand. Socio-economic and occupational factors significantly influence the disease syndemic with moderate effect sizes of -0.4 and 0.5, respectively (P<0.001). These effects are most remarkable in the northeastern region, which has not only the highest poverty level but also the highest proportion of occupational risk (P<0.001). Cats and dogs play crucial roles in maintaining the syndemic (r-value 7 and 6 with P<0.001). The study shows that opisthorchiasis and leptospirosis become syndemic, especially in North-East, Thailand. Socio-economic and occupational variables are positively syndemic as they are representative of neglected tropical diseases. The role of reservoir hosts underlines the value of an interdisciplinary approach, such as One Health for Sustainability Disease Control.

Automated summary

Opisthorchiasis and leptospirosis become a syndemic in Northeast Thailand, with socio-economic and occupational factors playing significant roles. The study highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach, such as One Health, for disease control.