Reemerging Leptospirosis, California

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a reemerging infectious disease in California. Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis throughout the world, though it is infrequently diagnosed in the continental United States. From 1982 to 2001, most reported California cases occurred in previously healthy young adult white men after recreational exposures to contaminated freshwater. We report five recent cases of human leptospirosis acquired in California, including the first documented common-source outbreak of human leptospirosis acquired in this state, and describe the subsequent environmental investigation. Salient features in the California cases include high fever with uniform renal impairment and mild hepatitis. Because leptospirosis can progress rapidly if untreated, this reemerging infection deserves consideration in febrile patients with a history of recreational freshwater exposure, even in states with a low reported incidence of infection.

Comportamiento de la vigilancia epidemiológica de la leptospirosis humana en Colombia, 2007-2011

“…La leptospirosis se considera una zoonosis emergente y reemergente de distribución mundial, causada por una bacteria perteneciente al género Leptospira, la cual se adquiere al tener contacto directo o indirecto con orina infectada de animales, suelos, aguas o alimentos contaminados (1)(2)(3)(4).…”

In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of First Generation Cephalosporins Against Leptospira

“…1 Outbreaks of leptospirosis occur after flood or natural disasters but also in association with increasing rat burden in the slums of large cities. [1][2][3][4] Leptospirosis has been traditionally treated with intravenous penicillin in severe cases and oral doxycycline in milder presentations. 5 Guidelines produced by the International Leptospirosis Society and World Health Organization in 2003 recommended high-dose intravenous penicillin for severe disease and oral amoxicillin, ampicillin, doxycycline, or erythromycin for less severe disease.…”

Leptospirosis in Cattle From Markets of Almaty Province, Kazakhstan

“…knowledge of Leptospira serovars affecting animals in Kazakhstan, is necessary for successful specific prophylaxis, and creates an opportunity to develop a complex of measures aimed at discontinuity of epizootic and epidemiological chain. Leptospirosis has been recognized as an important emerging global public health problem because of its epidemic proportions and increasing incidence in both developing and developed countries (21). Based on obtained results, it can be concluded that cattle coming into the market without any clinical signs of the disease could be Leptospira-carriers and thus they represent a risk to human health.…”