A Case of Human Infection with Leptospira mini georgia

Laboratory-Acquired Infections

“…A laboratory infection with L. ballum was traced by Wolff, Bohlander, and Ruys (44) to the urine of laboratory white mice and recently Stoenner and MacLean (33) reported infection of eight laboratory employees who had close contact with Swiss albino mice which were infected with this organism. Through a labora-tory accident it was demonstrated that the recently characterized leptospire, L. mino georgia, was infective for man (10). At least 16 laboratoryacquired infections with B virus have occurred since this agent was first demonstrated in 1932; 10 of these occurred in 1957 and 1958 probably as a result of increased use of monkey tissues for cultivation in vitro of poliovirus and for safety testing of vaccine.…”

“…Through a labora-tory accident it was demonstrated that the recently characterized leptospire, L. mino georgia, was infective for man (10). At least 16 laboratoryacquired infections with B virus have occurred since this agent was first demonstrated in 1932; 10 of these occurred in 1957 and 1958 probably as a result of increased use of monkey tissues for cultivation in vitro of poliovirus and for safety testing of vaccine. Although many of these infections resulted from monkey bites or handling of these animals, there is the suggestion that some persons might have acquired their infection through aerogenic means.…”