Publication at Second Faculty of Medicine, Third Faculty of Medicine |
2012
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a worldwide distributed zoonosis with the highest incidence in tropical regions. The reservoir animals, mainly mice and rats, excrete leptospirae in their urine asymptomatically.
It is transmitted to human host either via contact with the infected urine or via contaminated water or soil during the work and recreational activities. The aim of case report is point out another potential source of leptospiral infection - domestic rats, who became a favourite home pets in last twenty years.
Three patients with diverse severity course treated in 2005-2010 are described; the patients most likely acquired the leptospiral infection from their pet rats.