In leptospirosis (synonyms: Bouchet-Gsell disease; canicola fever; Charente fever; field, mud, harvest fever; fever caused by leptospires; Fort-Bragg fever;infection by Leptospira interrogans; infection by Leptospira interrogans autumnalis; infection by Leptospira interrogans canicola; infection by Leptospira interrogans hebdomadis; Infection by Leptospira interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae; Infection by Leptospira interrogans pomona; Infection by leptospires; Infection by Spirochaeta icterogenes; Japanese autumn fever; Japanese seven-day fever; Kanikola fever; Leptospirochetal infection a. n.k. ; Leptospirosis due to Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae; Leptospirosis; Leptospirosis autumnalis; Leptospirosis canicola; Leptospirosis icterohaemorrhagica; Leptospirosis pomona; Weil’s disease; Nanukayami; Pretibial fever; Mud fever; Seven-day fever; Spirochaetosis icterohaemorrhagica; Stuttgart dog disease; Swamp fever caused by leptospires; Weil disease; Weil-Landouzy disease;Swine guardian disease; ICD-10-GM A27. -: Leptospirosis; swineherd’s disease, field fever, mud fever, harvest fever, caicola fever) is an infectious disease caused by leptospires. Leptospires are bacteria and belong to the spirochetes. The disease belongs to the bacterial zoonoses (animal diseases). The reservoir of the pathogen are dogs, domestic and wild pigs, cattle and horses as well as mice or field hamsters. About 200 serovars of leptospires (Leptospira) can be distinguished, among the human pathogens:
- Leptospira icterohaemorrhagica (Weil’s disease).
- Leptospira canicola (canicola fever).
- Leptospira bataviae (field, mud, harvest fever).
- Leptospira pomona (pig guardian disease).
Occurrence: Leptospires occur worldwide. Seasonal accumulation of the disease: Leptospirosis occurs clustered in summer and early autumn (July to October). Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) to humans occurs through contact with urine, blood, or tissue of infected animals (natural hosts besides rats and mice are numerous other domestic, farm, and wild animals); also infection via contaminated urine in bodies of water. The pathogen enters the body parenterally (the pathogen does not penetrate through the intestine), i.e. it enters the body through damaged skin (percutaneous infection) and mucous membranes (permucous infection). Groups of people at risk are sewer workers, animal caretakers or employees of sewage treatment plants or on farms. The incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) is usually 1-2 weeks. Two forms of leptospirosis can be distinguished:
- Anicteric leptospirosis – course of the disease without jaundice (jaundice).
- Icteric leptospirosis (Weil’s disease; Leptospirosis icterohaemorrhagica) – course of the disease with icterus.
Sex ratio: males are more commonly affected than females. Frequency peak: the disease occurs predominantly between the ages of 25 and 39 years. The incidence (frequency of new cases) averages 0.08 cases per 100,000 population per year. Leptospirosis is usually imported from other countries. Course and prognosis: In the majority of cases (90%), the course of the disease is flu-like. Anicteric leptospirosis usually lasts a week, then subsides, but may recur after a few days. In mild courses, the prognosis is good. Weil’s disease, on the other hand, is associated with a severe course. Damage to the liver and kidneys may occur. If left untreated, the disease can also lead to death. The lethality (mortality in relation to the total number of people suffering from the disease) of icteric leptospirosis is between 5 and 15%. In Germany, direct or indirect detection of the pathogen Leptospira interrogans is reportable by name according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), insofar as the evidence indicates an acute infection.
