Leptospirosis
Introduction.
Leptospirosis is a zoonoticdisease whose reservoir is in rodents,
domestic animals and farm animals. Leptospires are shed in the animals' urine in
high numbers. Most infections in humans are asymptomatic or mild.
Summary
- Cause: Leptospira interrogans
- Microscopy: Gram-negative spiral, very thin (hard to see)
- Diagnosis: Microscopy not useful; agglutination tests work best
- Transmission: Contaminated water (animal urine); direct contact of
infected animals e.g slaughter house workers
- Symptoms: Mild flu-like
- Complications: Weil's Disease (meningitis, liver & kidney
damage)
- Pathogenesis: Rapid growth and spread of Leptospira in body; damage
of vascular endothelium causes symptoms; immune complexes.
- Immunity: Antibody-mediated immunity important
- Treatment: ampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, doxycycline
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