Regional workshop on diagnosis and profiling of leptospirosis at Universiti Putra Malaysia, February 4-7, 2014

The Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN) invited more than 20 participants from the Southeast Asian One Health University Network (SEAOHUN)to a regional workshop, funded by USAID-RESPOND program, on diagnosis and profiling of Leptospirosis, held on 4-7 February 2014, at Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside Hotel and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia.

Participants were:

• Dr. Bee Lee Ong - Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Prof. Abdul Rani Bahaman - Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Prof. Rick Speare - James Cook University, Australia
• Dr. Claudia Munoz-Zanzi - University of Minnesota, US
• Participants from SEAOHUN including members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam

The objectives of the workshop were:

• To share good practices and experience among SEAOHUN members in developing reference laboratories for leptospirosis.
• To provide opportunities to share technical expertise on the diagnosis of leptospirosis in human, animal and the environment.

The expected outcomes were:

• To establish networks between members of SEAOHUN in the diagnosis of leptospirosis in the region.
• To gain a better understanding and knowledge of various diagnostic approaches used by SEAOHUN members for diagnosis of Leptospirosis towards development of Leptospirosis reference laboratories for individual country and Southeast Asia region.

Content of the workshop included presentations of experts on the leptospirosis situation in the Asia-Pacific Region, current research and advances in the control of leptospirosis in humans and animals, application of mathematical transmission modeling to leptospirosis research  and control, how to carry out leptospirosis research using the One Health model. In addition, discussion and information on epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and control strategies of Leptospirosis in each country were shared. Lastly, all participants also had an opportunity to visit the diagnostic laboratory for leptospirosis at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and to learn methods for evaluation of test accuracy via lecture and computer exercise.

Overall, the workshop was well planned and organized. Participants feel that they have gained useful information and knowledge on leptospirosis from the workshop. This opportunity  has brought us new ideas to set up research in the near future and strengthen co-operation between One Health university networks.

Participants at the workshop