The aim of the study was the analysis of current Leptospira spp. infections in Poland on the basis of blood serum samples tests results and clinical data collected from clinicians in the Laboratory NIPH-NIH. METHODS. Clinical materials from 48 patients with clinical symptoms suggesting Leptospira spp suspected of leptospirosis from the years 2014-2017 were included to the study. Blood serum samples collected from patients were tested in Laboratory of Rickettsiae, Chlamydiae and Spirochaetes (currently Laboratory of Vector-borne Diseases) of NIPH-NIH. Levels of specific IgM and IgG antibodies to Leptospira spp. antigens were detected with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS. Specific antibodies to Leptospira spp. were detected in 18 patients (37.5%). IgM antibodies were found in 6 patients (12.5%) and IgG antibodies were identified in 7 patients (14.6%). Both classes of antibodies of were detected in 5 patients (10.4%). The most samples for study were sent to laboratory from Masovian (13 samples) and Kuyavian-Pomeranian (11 samples) Voivodeships. Not any samples from the Lower Silesia, Lublin, Łódź, Podlaskie and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships were received. In these patients the most common symptoms of disease were: fever, hepatitis with jaundice and renal failure. CONCLUSIONS. The number of diagnosed human leptospirosis in Poland is low in comparison to the number of cases in other countries, although the Leptospira spp. spirochetes occur in animals in the environment.

The aim of our studies was to invent a reliable method for detection of the bactericidal activity of disinfectants against Borrelia burgdorferi in suspension (in vitro) and in cell line cultures (in vivo). In the suspension method, 0.01% octenidine at 20°C and 35°C was bactericidal to Borrelia afzeli; Borrelia garini, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto after 5 minutes treatment. Increase of the temperature to 35°C speed up the bactericidal effect to 1 minute. The bactericidal action of octenidine towards B. burgdorferi spirochetes growing in fibroblasts was less effective and needed a longer time to kill them than in the suspension.