Publication at Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové |
2013
Abstract
This review details the basic characteristics about a neglected zoonosis of worldwide distribution - leptospirosis. Prevalence of infection caused by pathogenic leptospires ranges from 1 to 100 per 100000 inhabitants.
Leptospirosis can manifest itself as a mild flu-like illness associated with sudden fever, headache and myalgia. In 90% of cases, anicteric forms of the disease develop and in the remaining 10% of cases severe icteric course of infection is seen.
More than 500000 cases of severe leptospirosis are described annually with mortality from 5 to 15%. This review will primarily focus on the pathogenesis, the clinical manifestations, the laboratory diagnosis and treatment of this infectious disease.