Leptospirosis: risk factors and management challenges in developing countries

Area of Science:

• Zoonotic diseases
• Infectious diseases
• Public health

Background:

• Leptospirosis is a widespread bacterial zoonosis with a high burden in low-income tropical and subtropical populations.
• Rodents are primary reservoirs, but other mammals can contribute to human infections.
• Clinical presentation is nonspecific, often mimicking "acute fever of unknown origin," posing diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for increased awareness and prompt antibiotic treatment for leptospirosis.
• To emphasize the importance of understanding leptospirosis epidemiology for effective prevention and intervention.
• To advocate for multidisciplinary, One Health approaches to combat this zoonosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical and epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis.
• Discussion of diagnostic challenges and the necessity of biological confirmation for surveillance.
• Emphasis on knowledge of reservoir animals, circulating strains, and risk factors.

Main Results:

• Leptospirosis can rapidly progress to life-threatening complications like renal/respiratory failure and shock.
• Accurate diagnosis is often difficult due to nonspecific symptoms and limited availability of reliable diagnostic methods.
• Effective surveillance and diagnosis are essential for understanding disease patterns and at-risk populations.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced awareness and early clinical suspicion followed by rapid antibiotic treatment are vital.
• Improved surveillance and diagnosis are key to developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
• A One Health perspective is crucial for successfully tackling the challenges posed by leptospirosis.