Leptospira

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Contents 1 More Specific Terms 2 Epidemiology 3 Laboratory 4 More General Terms 5 Additional Terms 6 References

More Specific Terms

• Leptospira interrogans

Epidemiology

• Leptospira is distributed world wide, infecting at least 160 mammalian species. Rodents, especially rats, are the most important reservoir, although dogs, wild mammals, birds & fish may harbor the organisms. Leptospires may persist in the renal tubules of their hosts for years.
• Transmission of Leptospira may occur following direct contact with urine, blood or tissue from an infected animal or exposure to a contaminated environment (Leptospires can survive in water for many months).

Laboratory

• Thin, coiled, motile organisms with hooked ends & 2 peri- plasmic flagella, which enable the organism to burrow into tissues. Leptospira are 6-20 uM long & 0.1 uM wide. They stain poorly with ordinary stains, but may be seen with the light microscope by darkfield examination & after silver impregnation. Leptospira require special media & growth conditions. Cultures may take weeks to become positive.

More General Terms

• Spirochaetaceae

Additional Terms

• leptospirosis

References

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed.  Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 1036

Leptospira