This document discusses leptospirosis, an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. It can be transmitted through contact with infected soil or water contaminated by the urine of infected animals like rats. Symptoms take 2-26 days to appear and include fever, headache, muscle pain, and sometimes jaundice or liver/kidney damage. Treatment involves antibiotics like penicillin or doxycycline. Risk factors include occupations involving contact with animals/water and recreational activities in warm, wet areas.

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3. 1. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by infection with
bacteria of the genus Leptospira, a bacteria called a
spirochete.
2. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as
rats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and other vermin.
3. It is transmitted though contact with infected soil or water. The
soil or water is contaminated with the waste products of an
infected animal.

4. 4. People contract the disease by either ingesting contaminated
food or water or by broken skin and mucous membrane
(eyes, nose, sinuses, mouth) contact with the contaminated
water or soil.
5. Also known as Weil's syndrome, canicola fever, canefield
fever, nanukayami fever, 7-day fever, Rat Catcher's
Yellows, black jaundice and Pretibial fever.

5.  The disease was first described by Adolf Weil in 1886 when he
reported an "acute infectious disease with enlargement of
spleen, jaundice, and nephritis.
 Before Weil's characterization in 1886, the disease known as
infectious jaundice was very likely the same as Weil's disease, or
severe icteric leptospirosis.
 During the Egyptian campaign, Napoleon's army suffered from
what was probably infectious jaundice.

6.  Leptospira was first observed in 1907 from a post mortem
renal tissue slice.
 In 1908, Inada and Ito first identified it as the causative
organismand in 1916 noted its presence in rats.
 Though recognised among the world's most common
diseases transmitted to people from animals, leptospirosis is
nonetheless a relatively rare bacterial infection in humans.

7. 1. Spirochete.
2. Motile.
3. Both gram-positive and gram-negative characteristics.
4. Poor staining, therefore, can be seen on dark-field
microscopy but not light microscopy.
5. Beta-hemolytic.
6. Can be cultured in vitro.

8. HOW THE INFECTION TRANSMITTED?
i. The infection is commonly transmitted to humans by allowing water that has
been contaminated by animal urine to come in contact with:
 Unhealed breaks in the skin,
 The eyes, or
 With the mucous membranes.
ii. Leptospirosis is also transmitted by the semen of infected animals
Slaughterhouse workers may contract the disease through contact with
infected blood or body fluids.

10. WHAT IS THE RISK FACTORS?
 Occupational exposure :
• Farmers, Ranchers, Slaughterhouse
Workers, Trappers, Veterinarians, Sewer Workers, Rice
Field Workers, And Military Personnel.
 Recreational activities:
• Fresh Water Swimming, Canoeing, Kayaking, And Trail
Biking In Warm Areas.
 Household exposure :
• Pet Dogs, Domesticated Livestock, Rainwater Catchment
Systems, And Infected Rodents.

11. Symptoms can take 2 - 26 days (average 10 days) to develop, and
may include:
1) Dry cough
2) Fever
3) Headache
4) Muscle pain
5) Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Less common symptoms include:
1) Abdominal pain
2) Bone pain
3) Enlarged spleen or liver
4) Joint aches
5) Skin rash
6) Sore throat

12. Medications to treat leptospirosis include:
 Penicillin.
 Ampicillin.
 Ceftriaxone.
 Doxycycline.
 Complicated or serious cases may need supportive care
or treatment in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).

13.  Avoid areas of stagnant water, especially in tropical
climates.
 If you are exposed to a high risk area, taking penicillin or
doxycycline may decrease your risk of developing this
disease.
 Vaccination of domestic livestock and pets.
 Rat control.

14.  Culture:
I. Bodily fluids— days 1-7
II. Cerebrospinal fluid—days 4-10
III. Urine—after the 10th days
 Serological test:
I. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT),which detects rising antibody titers
in a given serologic test
II. Macroscopic slide agglutination
III. ELISA

18.  Other test:
I. Complete blood count (CBC)
II. Creatinine kinase
III. Liver enzymes
IV. Urinalysis