LEPTOSPIROSIS

LEPTOSPIROSIS

LEPTOSPIROSIS IS ESSENTIALLY ANIMAL

INFECTION BY SEVERAL SEROTYPES OF
LEPTOSPIRA (SPIROCHEATES) AND
TRANSMITTED TO MAN UNDER CERTAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS
A. AGENT FACTORS

 AGENT:

LEPTOSPIRA ARE THIN AND LIGHT MOTILE SPIROCHEATES 0.1-0.2ΜM WIDE AND 5-15ΜM LONG WITH HOOKED ENDS.

ONLY THE STRAINS OF L. INTERROGANS ARE PATHOGENIC.

 SOURCE OF INFECTION:

LEPTOSPIRA ARE EXCRETED IN THE URINE OF INFECTED ANIMALS FOR A LONG TIME, OFTEN FOR AN ENTIRE LIFE
TIME IN CASE OF RODENTS.

 ANIMAL RESERVOIRS:

LEPTOSPIRA AFFECTS WILD AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS WORLDWIDE ESPECIALLY RODENTS SUCH AS RATS, MICE AND
VOLES.
B. HOST FACTORS

 AGE:

CHILDREN ACQUIRE THE INFECTION FROM DOGS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN DO ADULT.

HUMAN INJECTION IS ONLY ACCIDENTAL.

 OCCUPATION:

HUMAN INFECTIONS ARE USUALLY DUE TO OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO THE URINE OF INFECTED
ANIMALS, E.G. AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK FARMERS, WORKERS IN RICE FIELDS, SUGARCANE FIELD,
MEAT AND ANIMAL HANDLERS, VETERINARIANS ETC.

 IMMUNITY:

A SOLID SEROVAR SPECIFIC IMMUNITY FOLLOWS INFECTION.

C. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

LEPTOSPIROSIS INFECTION IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS ACQUIRED THROUGH

CONTACT WITH AN ENVIRONMENT CONTAMINATED BY URINE AND FAECES FROM
CARRIER (RESERVOIR) ANIMAL OR OTHER INFECTED ANIMALS.
E. INCUBATION PERIOD

USUALLY 10 GAYS WITH A RANGE OF 4-10 DAYS

F. DIAGNOSIS

 IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE LEPTOSPIROSIS WITH CERTAINTY ON CLINICAL GROUNDS ALONE.

 INDIRECT HEMAGGLUTINATION
 IMMUNOFLUORESCENT ANTIBODY
 ELISA
 IGM ELISA IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS.
 LEPTODIPSTICK TEST
D. MODE OF TRANSMISSION

 DIRECT CONTACT

LEPTOSPIRA CAN ENTER THE BODY THROUGH SKIN ABRASIONS OR THROUGH INTACT MUCOUS
MEMBRANE BY DIRECT CONTACT WITH URINE OR TISSUE OF INFECTED ANIMAL.

 INDIRECT CONTACT

THROUGH THE CONTACT OF THE BROKEN SKIN WITH SOIL, WATER AND VEGETATION CONTAMINATED
BY URINE OF INFECTED ANIMALS OR THROUGH INGESTION OF FOOD OR WATER CONTAMINATED WITH
LEPTOSPIRAE.

 DROPLET INFECTION

INFECTION MAY ALSO OCCUR THROUGH INHALATION AS WHEN MILKING INFECTED COWS OR GOATS BY
BREATHING AIR POLLUTED WITH DROPLETS OF URINE.

DIRECT MAN TO MAN INFECTION IS RARE



G. CONTROL

ANTIBIOTOCS;
PENICILLIN IS THE DRUG USED WITH DOSAGE OF 6 MILLION UNITS DAILY INTRAVENOUSLY
OTHER ANTIBIOTICS SUCH AS TETRACYCLINE & DOXYCYCLINE

ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES;
IT INCLUDES PREVENTING EXPOSURE TO POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WATER, REDUCING CONTAMINATION BY RODENT CONTROL AND PROTECTION
OF WORKERS IN HAZARDOUS OCCUPATION.
MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO CONTROL RODENTS, PROPER DISPOSAL OF WASTES AND HEALTH EDUCATION ETC.

H. VACCINATION
IMMUNIZATION OF FARMERS AND PETS PREVENT DISEASE.
THANK YOU