Leptospira

^[1]^[2]^[3]

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)

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

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]

↑ Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 1036
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 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/