Human Infection Caused by Leptospira fainei
Human Infection Caused by Leptospira fainei
We report a human case of leptospirosis in which the spirochete was detected by dark-field microscopy examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and isolated from both CSF and blood. Leptospira fainei was identified by sequencing the 16S rDNA gene, which had been amplified by polymerase chain reaction. This case confirms the role of L. fainei as a human pathogen and extends its distribution to southern Europe.
Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis, usually transmitted to humans through contaminated water or direct exposure to the urine of infected animals. The clinical spectrum of the disease ranges from an influenza-like syndrome to Weil's disease and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The causative agents of human leptospirosis belong to the genus Leptospira, which contains both saprophytic and pathogenic species.L. fainei was first isolated from pigs in Australia. Subsequently, several reports based on serologic testing suggested that L. fainei might be pathogenic for humans as well. This potential has been recently confirmed by isolating L. fainei from the urine of two patients and the blood of one patient in Denmark. We report a typical case of leptospirosis in which L. fainei was directly observed in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and was isolated from both CSF and blood.
We report a human case of leptospirosis in which the spirochete was detected by dark-field microscopy examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and isolated from both CSF and blood. Leptospira fainei was identified by sequencing the 16S rDNA gene, which had been amplified by polymerase chain reaction. This case confirms the role of L. fainei as a human pathogen and extends its distribution to southern Europe.
Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis, usually transmitted to humans through contaminated water or direct exposure to the urine of infected animals. The clinical spectrum of the disease ranges from an influenza-like syndrome to Weil's disease and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The causative agents of human leptospirosis belong to the genus Leptospira, which contains both saprophytic and pathogenic species.L. fainei was first isolated from pigs in Australia. Subsequently, several reports based on serologic testing suggested that L. fainei might be pathogenic for humans as well. This potential has been recently confirmed by isolating L. fainei from the urine of two patients and the blood of one patient in Denmark. We report a typical case of leptospirosis in which L. fainei was directly observed in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and was isolated from both CSF and blood.