The diagnosis of leptospirosis

The Diagnosis of Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by bacteria called leptospires , Leptospira interrogans . This species is divided into more than 200 serovars with var , icterohemorrhageia though to be more virulent and more likely to cause Weil 's disease , a severe form of infection . It also called as Weil 's disease , Mud Fever , Trench Fever Flood Fever , Spiroketal Jaundice and Japanese Seven Days Fever . But the most common name of it is Leptospirosis

Rat is the main host to leptospirosis although pigs , cattles , rabbits hare , skunk , and other

wild animals can also serve as reservoir hosts

It is an occupational disease affecting veterinarians , miners , farmers sewer workers , abattoir workers , etc

Leptospira Interrogans are fine spiral bacteria 0 .1 urn in diameter and 6- 20 urn in length . Appears straight with 1 or both ends hooked Locomotion is achieved in a fluid medium by a whirling motion around the longitudinal axis and by a serpentine or corkscrew motion in semisolid medium

The incubation period rangers from 7-19 days , with average of 10 days The mode of transmission is through contact of the skin , especially open wounds with water , moist soil or vegetation contaminated with urine of infected host

The signs and symptoms would vary with different degrees of sensitivity . It has two clinical phases

Leptospiremic Phase

The leptospires are present in the blood and Cerebro Spinal Fluid . Onset of signs and symptoms are abrupt with fever , headache , myalgia , nausea vomiting , cough , and chest pain

Immune Phase

It correlates with the appearance of circulating IgM

Leptospirosis can be diagnosed by its clinical manifestations , culture of the organisms , and examination of the blood and CSF during the first week of illness and urine after the 10th day

The bacteria can immediately be found in the blood and urine the moment the infection occurs . Diagnostic test that could be performed to know the occurrence of this disease are blood test and serum tests to detect the different strains of the presence of the microorganisms . The Leptospira interrogans could also be cultured . This could be get from the blood , urine and serum by other clinicians and lab technicians considers this as one of those who could detect the presence of Leptospira interrogans inside the person 's body

Other test includes BUN and Creatinine . If the transaminases are being increased then the presence of Leptospirosis is confirmed

Polymerase Chain Reaction and ELISA are two of those who are of importance among the diagnostic tests . This helps in confirming the presence of the disease and not just detecting the presence of the bacteria or the microorganisms in the blood and in the urine

Not all of these diagnostic tests are being made available to all places . Leptospirosis could sometimes be silent and not manifest many signs and symptoms this could be along with the dengue fever and other viral diseases

There are treatments for Leptospirosis and these include

Penicillins and other related B- Lactam antibiotics (PCN at 2M units q 6H IM / IV

Tetracycline...