Infection caused by a type of bacteria from the Leptospira genus.
This bacterium can affect animals such as rats, dogs, cattle, among others, and it is eliminated through urine. Humans acquire the infection by direct contact with infected animals tissue, urine or with contaminated water and/or soil.
It can appear as an occupational disease (farmers, slaughterhouse or sewage workers, sweepers, hunters, veterinarians...) or a recreational one (swimming in fresh water, kayaking-canoeing...).
It occurs mainly in tropical-subtropical areas with hot and humid climates, in the summer and autumn months.
Symptoms occur in phases:
- High fever onset, chills, headache, severe muscle aches, dry cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
- After 4-9 days there is a phase of apparent improvement.
- The fever reappears, as well as possible complications, affecting kidneys, liver, nervous system, lungs and/or heart. We can observe a yellowing tinting of the skin and mucous membranes, abdominal pain and bloating, neck stiffness, impaired consciousness, chest pain and bleeds from the nasal, lung, digestive tract, urine and cutaneous hemorrhages.
The diagnosis is reached through the clinical history and a physical examination. It is confirmed by observing samples under a dark field microscope, performing cultures and serological tests-PCR.
The treatment is based on antibiotics: in less severe cases, oral ampicillin or amoxicillin are used. In more severe cases, intravenous penicillin or ampicillin and doxycycline will be used.
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- Ellis WA. Animal leptospirosis. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2015;387:99-137
