A Note on Weil's Disease (Spirochaetosis Ictero-Haemorrhagica) as It Has Occurred in the Army in Flanders

Abstract

JOVJN-A. RYLE, CAPTAIN R.A.AIC.(S.12.), INTEREST in tile isubject of infectious jaundice hias lately been reopened by a monograplh from Drs. Inada, Ido, Hoki, KaneLo, and Ito.' Weil first described the disease which bears his name in 1886. It was clharacterized by jaundice, pyrexia, lhaeimiorrhages, and the fact that it was apparently infectious, as the cases occurred eithier in widespread epidemics or localized groups of cases, or sometimes all thle nembers of a single family would be affected at the same time. In the Britislh Isles the epidemic form is rare, but the family type of infectious jaundice is well known. Widespread epidemics lhave been seen in the United States, and outbreaks liave been reportecd in India, Africa, and the Near East. To quLote t1he. Japanese worlkers: "In the ,western part of Japan there prevails an epidemnic and endemic disease chlaracterized by conjinctival congestion, muscular pains, fever, jaulndice, haemorrhagic diathesis, and albuminuria, which is known as Weil's disease, or febrile jaundice. At the end of last year (1914) the same disease was observed in Chiba, in the eastern part of

History of Leptospirosis and Leptospira

“…It is probable that they observed one of the several serovars that we now know to be carried by mice. The Japanese findings were quickly confirmed in Europe and the U.S.A (Noguchi 1917;Stokes et al 1917).…”

Leptospirosis

“…Unfortunately, these two groups became so embroiled in arguments over priority that they overlooked the first publications in English (296) and German of papers by Inada's group, whose initial publications predated their own by 8 months (207). Confirmation of the occurrence of leptospirosis on both sides of the Western Front was obtained rapidly after the publication in Europe of Inada's work (131,145,543,630).…”

Canine Leptospirosis and Public Health

“…12, December 1955 ally hooked at both ends. They are generally 6 reported in epizootic proportions (9). The disease may appear in kennels and result in a high fatality rate, particularly among young dogs.…”

“…The significance of such leptospiral carriers was dramatically illustrated in the rat infested trenches of World War I where over a hundred cases of human leptospirosis occurred (6). Since those early reports, new leptospiral hosts have been found, includinig almost every type of domestic animal, most rodents, and many wild animals.…”