Leptospirosis.

摘要

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis with diverse clinical findings ranging from asymptomatic infection to renal failure and death. Severe icteric infection is commonly referred to as Weil's disease. The causative agent, Leptospira interrogans, is a single species of spirochete with multiple serotypes that are arranged in antigenically related groups. More than 170 serovars and 18 serogroups have been identified. Making the diagnosis depends on having strong suspicion in the presence of key epidemiologic and clinical findings. Laboratory confirmation is available, but the results of established tests are rarely obtained in time to aid in patient management. Since newer rapid methods of serodiagnosis are not in widespread use, the prompt verification of leptospirosis remains a problem. (jes)