Leptospira interrogans
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Leptospira interrogans
- Characteristics
- Spirochete with hook-shaped ends
- Does not gram stain well
- Spirochete with hook-shaped ends
- Transmission
- Found in water contaminated with animal urine
- Animals (rodents, dogs, cattle, sheep) are natural reservoirs
- Seen in freshwater sports (e.g. swimmers, canoers, kayakers, etc.)
- Most prevalent in tropics (e.g. Hawaii)
- Found in water contaminated with animal urine
- Presentation
- Leptospirosis
- Conjunctival suffusion
- extreme redness of eye without exudate
- Photophobia may be rarely seen
- Flu-like symptoms (non-productive cough, myalgias)
- Conjunctival suffusion
- May be complicated by liver and renal failure
- Also known as Weil’s disease (icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis)
- Severe form that presents with jaundice and azotemia
- Leptospirosis
- Diagnosis
- Clinical and laboratory findings are not very sensitive or specific; most diagnosis is clinical
- Microscopic Agglutination Test
- Reference standard assay, but is not widely available
- Immunoglobulin M via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Dark-field microscopy
- Treatment
- Doxycycline or Azithromycin (macrolide) for mild disease
- Penicillin or ceftriaxone used for severe disseminated disease