[Extract] Pathogenic leptospires, the causative agents of leptospirosis, exhibit wide phenotypic and genotypic variations. They are currently classified into 17 species and >200 serovars (1,2). Most reported cases of leptospirosis in Brazil are of urban origin and caused by Leptospira interrogans (3). Brazil underwent a dramatic demographic transformation due to uncontrolled growth of urban centers during the last 60 years. Urban slums are sites of poor sanitation that favors rat-borne transmission of leptospirosis among humans. Thus, this may explain the major involvement of serovar Copenhageni (L. interrogans). The predominance of L. interrogans is likely due to the underestimation of rural cases of leptospirosis.
展开▼
