Leptospirosis

is a bacterial infection resulting from exposure to the Leptospira interrogans bacterium. is an acute form of human infection known as Weil's disease, where the patient suffers from jaundice.

There

 Leptospirosis Most

causes several animal infections

wide spread zoonotic infection in Nature Human infections are accidental associated with contamination of water, other materials contaminated with excreta and animal flesh. Leptospirosis is most common in temperate or tropical climates and appears to be rare in North America.

Certain occupational groups such as agriculture workers in rice and cane fields and miners are potential victims

Rats, Mice, Wild Rodents, Dogs, Swine, Cattle are principle source of infection The above animals excrete Leptospira both in active infection and asymptomatic stage The Leptospira survive and remain viable for several weeks in stagnant water.

Water is the great source; Drinking Swimming Bathing, as the urine of Rodents chronically infect and contaminate water sources

Children get infected when in contact with infected Dogs

 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.

The Leptospira appear tightly coiled thin flexible Spritochetes 5 15 microns long.

Actively motile
Seen best with dark field Microscopy.

 Leptospira

in the water enter through breaks in the skin ( cuts and abrasions ) and mucous membranes, Mouth Nose Conjunctiva
period 1 2 weeks

Incubation When May

multiples in blood stream produces fever.

establish organ involvement in kidney and liver, hemorrhage and necrosis in the tissues and initiates dysfunction of these organs

 Mild

flu-like syndrome Myalgia (thigh, calf) headache (frontal, retro orbital

severe

Jaundice Hemorrhage

Acute renal failure

Fever and conjunctiva injection

 Nephritis
Hepatitis. uveitis Muscular

lesions Many infections are mild and subclinical

 Severe

form of leptospirosis that causes a continuous fever, stupor, and a reduction in the blood's ability to clot, which leads to bleeding within tissues. By the 2nd week, signs of kidney damage and liver injury appear.
Kidney abnormalities hematuria and dysuria. Liver injury tends to be mild and usually heals

completely.

1)
2) 3)

4)
5)

Clinical signs and symptoms Lab investigation Serology MAT, ELISA Bacterial isolation (dark field microscopy) PCR blood, urine, CSF

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

WBC 15 000 30 000/mm3 ESR Mild thrombocytopenia LFT Br, transaminases and PT Blood, CSF, issues, urine for microscopic examination and culture (semisolid agar) Serum for agglutination tests

6)

 Detection

of IgM and raising titers of IgG will guide in association with clinical history will help in Diagnosis

 Antibiotic

of choice is Benzyl Pencillin given by injection in doses of 5 mega units in a day, for 5 days. If the patients are genuinely hypertensive to Pencillin opted with Erythromycin 250mgs four times a day for a period of 5 days.

 The

leptospirosis can be effectively treated

with Doxycycline Ampicillin Amoxicillin

Severe patients need administration Intravenous Pencillin or Amoxcillin

Doxycycline 200 mg orally once a week is simple effective measure. When heavy exposure is anticipated

 Rodent

control is most important. Humans should avoid contact with water contaminated with animal contact.

 Vaccination

for humans is justified where they cannot be separated from animal sources or where the animals cannot be immunized successfully Necessity of human vaccinated will arise where people live and work in proximity to rodents in wet, tropical conditions, in wet rice planting and harvesting, in military operations, or working in sewers. Yet no universally accepted vaccine is available for humans