LEPTOSPIRA INTERROGANS YASHWANT KUMAR DILLI BABU GROUP-8

Leptospira (spiral bacteria) Microbes

TAXONOMY Classification Phylum: Spirochaetes Class: Spirochaetes Order: Spirochaetales Species: Leptospira Family: Leptospiraceae

Tightly Coiled Spirochete AF OS = outer sheath AF = axial fibrils Leptospira interrogans

PHYSIOLOGY AND STRUCTURE Thin, coiled spirochetes (.1 ×6 to 20 µm)that grow slowly in culture. Temperature(28˚C to 30˚C) Gram-negative spirochetes Obligate aerobes and Characteristic hooked ends . Pathogenic strains: Leptospira interrogans. Non pathogenic strains: Leptospira biflexa.

A microscopic view of LeptospiraI bacteria stained apple green with a fluorescent dye (from the CDC’s Public Health Image Library)

EPIDERMIOLOGY Mainly a zoonotic disease Transmitted to humans from a variety of wild and domesticated animal hosts Most common reservoirs rodents (rats), dogs, farm animals and wild animals Organism can penetrate the skin through minor breaks in the epidermis or with intact mucus membranes Indirect contact (soil, water, feed) with infected urine from an animal with leptospiruria Occupational disease of animal handling and more common during warm months

VIRULENCE FACTOR Direct invasion and replication in tissues (i.e.) virulence unknown. Immune complex produces renal disease.

CLINICAL DISEASES Mild virus-like syndrome (Anicteric leptospirosis) Systemic with aseptic meningitis (Icteric leptospirosis) Overwhelming disease (Weil’s disease) Vascular collapse Thrombocytopenia Hemorrhage Hepatic and renal dysfunction NOTE: Icteric refers to jaundice (yellowing of skin and mucus membranes by deposition of bile) and liver involvement

PATHOGENESIS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS Leptospirosis, also called Weil’s disease in humans Its directly invaded and replicated in tissues Characterized by an acute febrile jaundice and glumerulonephritis Incubation period usually 10-12 days with flu-like illness usually progressing through two clinical stages: Leptospiremia develops rapidly after infection (usually lasts about 7 days) without local lesion Infects the kidneys and organisms are shed in the urine (leptospiruria) with renal failure and death not uncommon Hepatic injury & meningeal irritation is common

MODE OF INFECTION

Clinical Progression of Icteric (Weil’s Disease) and Anicteric Leptospirosis (pigmented part of eye)

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS Microscopy not useful because too few organism are generally present in fluids or tissues. Culture blood or CSF in the first 7 to 10 days of illness. Urine after first week. Serology using the MAT is relatively sensitive and specific but are not widely available. ELISA tests are less accurate but can be used to screen patients.

Comparison of Diagnostic Tests for Leptospirosis

TREATMENT Penicillin (10-14 days) intravenously for severe infections. Amoxicillin, Erythromycin, & Doxycycline (orally) Patients with MOF(Multi organ failure) to be observed and treated in intensive care unit.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL Rats should be controlled. Herds and domestic pets should properly vaccinated. providing proper protective clothing, shoes, gloves, etc. to high-risk Occupational groups.(farming and cattle industries) Proper collection, transport, treatment and secured disposal of garbage.(drinking boiled water) Leptospira species can be inactivated by 1%sodium hypochlorite,70%ethanol,glutaraldehyde,formaldeh yde,detergents and acid. This organism is sensitive to moist heat (121 ° C for a minimum of 15 min)and is also killed by pasteurization.

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