Leptospira spp.
MICROBIOLOGY
- Leptospira is one of the spirochetes [Fig 1] pathogenic for humans (other examples are Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, relapsing fever Borreliae, and Treponemes, e.g., Treponema pallidum [syphilis]).
- Organisms don’t replicate in the environment but may survive in standing water or contaminated soils.
- Leptospira is a member of Leptospiraceae and is divided into 20 species based on DNA hybridization. Previously, multiple species were described (66) and may also be classified by serovars (>300). Leptospira spp are pathogenic and non-pathogenic for humans. Further divisions into subclades for human pathogens
- Species may cause severe illness: L. alexanderi, L. alstonii, L. borgpetersenii, L. interrogans, L. kirschneri,L. kmetyi, L. mayottensis, L. noguchii, L. santarosai, and L. weillii.
- Others may cause mild illness or in the setting of immunocompromise.
- Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by wild and domestic animals (dogs, cattle, pigs, and more) and rodents (rats and mice).
- Infected urine from animals -->waters, soils.
- Challenging to culture in the laboratory, fastidious.
- Liquid media is preferred (e.g., modified Ellinghausen McCulloughJohnson Harris (EMJH) medium +/- 5-FU), temperature 29-32°C. Doubling time 6-18h.
- Aerobic, but CO2 is needed; aeration appears to help growth.
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Last updated: June 9, 2024
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G. "Leptospira Spp." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2024. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540311/all/Leptospira_spp_.
Auwaerter PG. Leptospira spp. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2024. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540311/all/Leptospira_spp_. Accessed December 9, 2024.
Auwaerter, P. G. (2024). Leptospira spp. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540311/all/Leptospira_spp_
Auwaerter PG. Leptospira Spp [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2024. [cited 2024 December 09]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540311/all/Leptospira_spp_.
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