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Leptospira
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)
Pathology:
- 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
Laboratory:
- Leptospira serology
- Leptospira antigen
- Leptospira identified in specimen
- Leptospira DNA
- Leptospira culture
- Leptospira require special media & growth conditions
- cultures may take weeks to become positive
- Leptospira are 6-20 uM long & 0.1 uM wide
- see leptospirosis & ARUP consult [2]
Related
leptospirosis
Specific
Leptospira borgpetersenii
Leptospira interrogans
Leptospira weilii
General
Spirochaetaceae
Properties
KINGDOM: monera
DIVISION: SCHIZOMYCETES
References
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed.
Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 1036
- ARUP Consult: Leptospira Species
The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection & Interpretation
https://www.arupconsult.com/content/leptospira-species
- Johnson RC
Chapter 35. Leptospira
Medical Microbiology. 4th edition.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8451/