Bat-Associated Leptospirosis
- 9 December 2009
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Journal of General Internal Medicine
- Vol. 25 (2), 162-164
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-1210-7
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a globally prevalent disease that affects humans, causing systemic illness that may lead to multi-organ involvement. Clinical signs include sudden fever, general malaise, muscular pain, conjunctival suffusion, and jaundice. Disease is caused by pathogenic bacteria including over 200 serologic variants. Most serologic variants have primary reservoirs in wild mammals, which continually infect and colonize domesticated animals. The organism has been recovered from rats, swine, dogs, cattle, and other animals, notably bats. Most studies have focused on domestic animals as reservoir hosts; however, because of their abundance, spatial distribution, and interrelationship with domestic animals, bats are becoming an epidemiologically significant source of leptospires. We present a case of serologically confirmed leptospirosis after bat exposure to add to the growing literature of bats as a possible source of transmission. Recognition of the common presentation of leptospirosis and Weil’s disease, and identification of animal vectors, including bats, allows for the selection of appropriate antibiotic management to aid in resolution of symptomotology.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Serological Evidence of Leptospiral Infection in Pig Populations in Different Districts in JapanMicrobiology and Immunology, 2007
- Leptospirosis: pathogenesis, immunity, and diagnosisCurrent Opinion in Infectious Diseases, 2007
- DIVERSITY OF BAT-ASSOCIATED LEPTOSPIRA IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON INFERRED BY BAYESIAN PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF 16S RIBOSOMAL DNA SEQUENCESThe American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2005
- LEPTOSPIROSIS AFTER RECREATIONAL EXPOSURE TO WATER IN THE YAEYAMA ISLANDS, JAPANThe American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2005
- An Open, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Penicillin, Doxycycline, and Cefotaxime for Patients with Severe LeptospirosisClinical Infectious Diseases, 2004
- Ceftriaxone Compared with Sodium Penicillin G for Treatment of Severe LeptospirosisClinical Infectious Diseases, 2003
- Leptospiral Antibodies in Flying Foxes in AustraliaJournal of Wildlife Diseases, 2002
- Clinical observation and treatment of leptospirosisJournal of Infection and Chemotherapy, 2001
- Doxycycline Therapy for LeptospirosisAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1984
- Leptospirosis ITransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1967