Leptospirosis is one of the most neglected zoonotic infections of public health concern worldwide and a remerging infection in tropical countries such as India. The infection least explored disease and the epidemiological and other critical data are scarce for the disease rate reported and to control the infection. Leptospirosis as sapronosis is as underrated as the infection itself, and this article aims to explore the significance of this aspect of the disease. The research review aimed at the epidemiological understanding of the infection to control the negative impact of the disease. A mixed review and analysis were carried out to understand the knowledge published on the critical and understudied areas like epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and control of infection. A systematic analysis was carried out to extract information about the reported circulating strains, and research lacunae in India with the published data available in PubMed. The article elaborately discusses crucial inference areas of infection transmission and addresses lacunae in critically unacclaimed areas of infection to control the spread of infection using one health approach (OHA), and strategies to control leptospiral infection are proposed. The article also reviewed how and why Leptospirosis can be best studied and controlled by “One health approach” in India. Graphical Abstract
1 January 2024 in Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal
Introduction: Leptospirosis is one of the neglected zoonotic diseases of public health importance due to its surge in emergence and reemergence in India. There is a lack of information on critical areas of the disease such as epidemiology, disease dynamics, infection status, and poor management. This study aimed to critically review the status of leptospirosis over time with a holistic review utilizing scientometrics and systematic analysis techniques to quantify the research activities with available evidence from existing databases and address the research gap in the Indian subcontinent. Methods: The analysis was conducted using the keywords “Leptospirosis” and “India” from the Web of Science database, and the research output was explored through a scientometric analysis. We searched research articles related to leptospirosis in India from the science citation index expanded database of Thomson Reuters Web of Science from 1965 to 2019 (54 years). The Bibliometrix package of R software, online Word cloud, and VOS Viewer were used to conduct a formal scientometric analysis of 50 articles and systematic analysis for the qualitative data obtained from the available 37 articles. Results: A total of 50 articles were obtained. These articles were extensively analyzed to extract the qualitative and quantitative research data. The results of the analysis concerning the research gap were extensively discussed in this scientometric analysis. Conclusion: Our research outcomes help contemplate the research status in India where there has been a slight increase in publication rates in recent years. There is a significant need for an increase in the articles, authors, collaboration, patent registration, and interdisciplinary research in the field of leptospirosis in India. Even now, more than five decades after the first report of the disease in India, basic data are scarce, notably on epidemiology, disease burden, morbidity, etc., This article extensively reviewed research lacunae and credible interpretation.