History

  • Leptospirosis was first recognized as a disease in 1883, and was prevalent in sewer workers.                  
  • The first description of Leptospirosis was by a man named Adolf Weil in 1886, but its cause was not determined.
  •  This disease is often called Weil's disease/syndrome because of this.

Leptospirosis 

Diagnosis/Symptoms

 

Common symptoms of Leptospirosis can include:

  • High fever
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Muscle aches
  • Vomiting
  • Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
  • Red eyes
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Rash

Incubation Period: 2 days to 4 weeks, illness usually begins with abrupt fever.

AGENT

  •  Leptospira spp.
  • Bacteria was first observed in 1907 in an analysis of a diseased kidney.
  • 6-20 μm long
  • Hooked ends, lengthwise flagella

Two Phases

First Phase

  • fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • The patient may recover for some time, but then become sick again

Second Phase

  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure
  • Meningitis

Epidemiology

  •  Leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but is most common in temperate or tropical climates.
  • Infection rate: 100 per 100,000 in tropical regions
  • 90% of Leptospirosis cases are mild, however the other 10% can lead to organ failure.

 TRANSMISSION/CYCLE

  • Urine of infected animals
  • Goes into water, soil, can live for weeks-months
  • Animals include cattle, pigs, dogs, horses, rodents, etc.
  • Bacteria enters through skin or mucous membranes, especially cuts
  • Infected drinking water also causes infection
  • Outbreaks have been prevalent during floods

 

 Prevention

  •  Avoid swimming and/or contact in water, which may contain infected animal urine.
  • Protective clothing and footwear must be used if exposed to contaminated water/soil.

  •  The disease has also been associated with swimming, wading, kayaking, and rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers. As such, it is a recreational hazard for campers or those who participate in outdoor sports.

Vaccines/ Treatment 

  •  Human vaccines are available in China and Cuba
  • No vaccine used in the US

  • Doxycycline
  • Penicillin
  • Best if given early in the course of the disease

Citation:

 "Leptospirosis ." Leptospirosis. Medscape, n.d. Web. 01 July 2013. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/220563-overview.

"Leptospirosis ." Leptospirosis. NHS Choices, n.d. Web. 01 July 2013. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Leptospirosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx.

"Leptospirosis." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 June 2013. Web. 01 July 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/.