Sandbox:Leptospirosis
Overview
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disorder with ubiquitous distribution,common worldwide, especially in developing countries caused by Leptospira species.
Historical Perspective
Association of renal failure with icteric leptospirosis, was first reported over 100 years ago and described by Adolf Weil.
Pathophysiology
The disease leptospirosis involves a spectrum of symptoms ranging from subclinical infection to a severe syndrome of multiorgan infection with high mortality and Weil’s disease represents only the most severe presentation. Severe leptospirosis is frequently caused by serovars of the icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup. The presentation of leptospirosis is biphasic, with the acute or septicemic phase lasting about a week, followed by the immune phase, characterized by antibody production and excretion of leptospires in the urine.[1]
Bacteria shed from the infected animals such as rodents and domesticat animals through urine. These animals may not show signs of disease, but humans shows signs of illness after contact with infected urine, or through contact with water, soil or food that has been contaminated.
Causes
Severe leptospirosis is frequently caused by serovars of the icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Overview
During the past few decades, leptospirosis has become seriously neglected, especially in countries of temperate regions. The main reasons for this situation are probably: 1) a relatively less number of cases noted in the temperate climate zone 2) well established, quite effective methods of therapy and prevention of the disease 3) seemingly well-determined epidemiologic situation concerning the disease.[2]
Epidemiology and Demographics
Prevalence
Leptospirosis, is a zoonotic emerging infectious disease with a worldwide distribution.[3] Tropical climatic conditions are most favourable for survival of leptospires and the morbidity is high due to extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods occurring in recent years.[4][5]
Incidence
Leptospirosis is an increasing public health problem worldwide, evidenced by markedly increasing incidence rates and multiple outbreaks allover the world.
Case Fatality Rate
Higher morbidity due to leptospirosis is observed in regions with higher proportion of surface fresh waters such as lakes, rivers, developed canal systems.[6][7] Case fatality rate due to leptospirosis is > 10%, and > 500,000 cases of severe leptospirosis are reported each year.
Age
Gender
Developed Countries
Developing Countries
Leptospirosis is a neglected disease with a greatest burden on impoverished populations from developing countries and tropical regions.[8]
Natural History, Complications & Prognosis
Natural History
Complications
Complications of leptospirosis are associated with localization of pathogen(Leptospires) within the tissues during the immune phase, eventually present during the second week of the illness.
Daignosis
History & Symptoms
The clinical presentation of leptospirosis is biphasic, with the acute or septicemic phase lasting about a week, followed by the immune phase, characterized by antibody production and excretion of leptospires in the urine.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Levett, P. N. (2001). "Leptospirosis". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 14 (2): 296–326. doi:10.1128/CMR.14.2.296-326.2001. ISSN 0893-8512.
- ↑ Hartskeerl RA, Collares-Pereira M, Ellis WA (2011). "Emergence, control and re-emerging leptospirosis: dynamics of infection in the changing world". Clin Microbiol Infect. 17 (4): 494–501. doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03474.x. PMID 21414083.
- ↑ Levett PN (2001). "Leptospirosis". Clin Microbiol Rev. 14 (2): 296–326. doi:10.1128/CMR.14.2.296-326.2001. PMC 88975. PMID 11292640.
- ↑ Lau CL, Smythe LD, Craig SB, Weinstein P (2010). "Climate change, flooding, urbanisation and leptospirosis: fuelling the fire?". Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 104 (10): 631–8. doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.002. PMID 20813388.
- ↑ Vijayachari P, Sugunan AP, Shriram AN (2008). "Leptospirosis: an emerging global public health problem". J Biosci. 33 (4): 557–69. PMID 19208981.
- ↑ Jansen A, Schöneberg I, Frank C, Alpers K, Schneider T, Stark K (2005). "Leptospirosis in Germany, 1962-2003". Emerg Infect Dis. 11 (7): 1048–54. doi:10.3201/eid1107.041172. PMC 3371786. PMID 16022779.
- ↑ Baranton G, Postic D (2006). "Trends in leptospirosis epidemiology in France. Sixty-six years of passive serological surveillance from 1920 to 2003". Int J Infect Dis. 10 (2): 162–70. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2005.02.010. PMID 16298537.
- ↑ McBride AJ, Athanazio DA, Reis MG, Ko AI (2005). "Leptospirosis". Curr Opin Infect Dis. 18 (5): 376–86. PMID 16148523.