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[Leptospirosis in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, 8 case reports]
1Clinique de néphrologie, H Calmette, CHRU de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59037 Lille. o-moranne@chru-lille.fr
Medecine Tropicale : Revue Du Corps De Sante Colonial
|April 14, 2004
Summary
Leptospirosis outbreaks in Vanuatu are rare, with this study detailing 8 cases on Espiritu Santo Island. Early diagnosis and penicillin treatment were effective, but underdiagnosis remains a concern.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with sporadic outbreaks globally.
- Previous literature on leptospirosis in Vanuatu is limited, with only one prior report in 1992.
Observation:
- Eight cases of leptospirosis were identified in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, in 1997.
- Patients presented with fever, myalgia, diarrhea, severe jaundice, and visceral involvement.
- Complications included kidney failure, neurological manifestations, and Weil syndrome in some cases.
Findings:
- Laboratory findings revealed hyperleukocytosis and liver enzyme abnormalities.
- Microscopic agglutination testing confirmed positive results, with serum PCR positive in two cases.
- All patients showed favorable response to intravenous penicillin and symptomatic treatment.
Implications:
- The estimated incidence of 40/100,000 person-years suggests underdiagnosis due to limited awareness and access to care.
- This case series highlights the importance of recognizing and managing leptospirosis in remote settings.
- Effective treatment with penicillin underscores its role in managing severe leptospirosis.