Leptospirosis: Causes and symptoms
Leptospirosis was first described by Adolf Weil, when he reported an acute infectious disease with enlargement of spleen, jaundice and nephritis. The infection is transmitted to humans by allowing water that has been contaminated by animal urine
LEPTOSPIROSIS, ALSO known as Weil's disease, Weil's syndrome, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever, 7-day fever, "Fort Bragg fever," and "Pretibial fever" is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira that affects humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It was first described by Adolf Weil in 1886 when he reported an "acute infectious disease with enlargement of spleen, jaundice and nephritis." Leptospira was first observed in 1907 from a post mortem renal tissue slice. Leptospirosis is caused by a spirochaete bacterium called Leptospira spp that has at least 5 serovars of importance in the United States and Canada causing disease in dogs (Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, and Bratislava). There are other (less common) infectious strains. It should, however, be noted that genetically different leptospira organisms may be identical serologically and vice versa. Hence, an argument exists on the basis of strain identification. The traditional serologic system is seemingly more useful from a diagnostic and epidemiologic standpoint at the moment (which may change with further development and spread of technologies like PCR). Leptospirosis is transmitted by the urine of an infected animal and is contagious as long as it is still moist. Although rats, mice and voles are important primary hosts, a wide range of other mammals including dogs, deer, rabbits, hedgehogs, cows, sheep, raccoons, possums, skunks and even certain marine mammals are also able to carry and transmit the disease as secondary hosts. Dogs may lick the urine of an infected animal off the grass or soil or drink from an infected puddle. There have been reports of "house dogs" contracting leptospirosis apparently from licking the urine of infected mice that entered the house. The type of habitats most likely to carry infective bacteria are muddy riverbanks, ditches, gulleys and muddy livestock rearing areas where there is regular passage of either wild or farm mammals. There is a direct correlation between the amount of rainfall and the incidence of leptospirosis, making it seasonal in temperate climates and year-round in tropical climates. Leptospirosis is also transmitted by the semen of infected animals. Abattoir workers can contract the disease through contact with infected blood or body fluids.
Humans become infected through contact with water, food or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact. The disease is not known to spread from person to person and cases of bacterial dissemination in convalescence are extremely rare in humans. Leptospirosis is common among watersport enthusiasts in specific areas as prolonged immersion in water is known to promote the entry of the bacteria. Surfers are especially at high risk in areas that have been shown to contain the bacteria and can contract the disease by swallowing contaminated water, contacting water with the eyes and nose or entrance through open wounds. Occupational risk factors include veterinarians, slaughter house workers, farmers, sewer workers and architects and other building workers working on derelict buildings. An outbreak in an inner city environment has been linked to contact with rat urine. Symptoms
Humans become infected through contact with water, food or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact. The disease is not known to spread from person to person and cases of bacterial dissemination in convalescence are extremely rare in humans. Leptospirosis is common among watersport enthusiasts in specific areas as prolonged immersion in water is known to promote the entry of the bacteria. Surfers are especially at high risk in areas that have been shown to contain the bacteria and can contract the disease by swallowing contaminated water, contacting water with the eyes and nose or entrance through open wounds. Occupational risk factors include veterinarians, slaughter house workers, farmers, sewer workers and architects and other building workers working on derelict buildings. An outbreak in an inner city environment has been linked to contact with rat urine. Symptoms
In humans, leptospiral infection causes a wide range of symptoms and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Leptospirosis is a biphasic disease that begins with flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, myalgias, intense headache). The first phase resolves and the patient is briefly asymptomatic until the second phase begins.
This is characterised by meningitis, liver damage (causing jaundice) and renal failure; because of the wide range of symptoms the infection is often wrongly diagnosed. This leads to a lower registered number of cases than there really are. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches and vomiting, and may include jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or a rash. The symptoms in humans appear after a 4–14 day incubation period. | Previous Post |
.good article but information on availablility of drugs used in treatment can also be an useful information.
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