Leptospira, IgG IgM Test

Leptospira is a corkscrew-shaped bacteria that causes an infection called Leptospirosis. The Leptospira bacteria infect many types of animals (many wild animals, rodents, dogs, cats, pigs, horses, cattle, for example) that subsequently contaminate water, lakes, rivers, soil, and crops when they urinate because the bacteria are present in urine. The bacteria then infect humans when they invade through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes or when people ingest them. The bacteria multiply in the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The signs and symptoms can range from none to mild such as headaches, muscle pains, and fevers; to severe with bleeding from the lungs or meningitis. Person-to-person transfer of this disease is rare.

Physicians make a presumptive diagnosis based on the patient's history and physical exam. Only specialized labs perform serological serology tests for leptospirosis serogroups. Health care professionals may perform definitive tests by isolating the bacteria from the patient or by a positive microscopic agglutination test. Other tests may provide additional evidence of infection. Patients with severe symptoms should be treated as confirmatory tests are time consuming. The doctor will ask about any recent travel, especially to areas where leptospirosis is common, about any activities that occurred in a slaughterhouse, on a farm, relating to animal care, or anything that might have involved contact with animal urine or blood. If a physician suspects severe leptospirosis, the patient may undergo specific diagnostic tests. A number of blood and urine tests can confirm or rule out leptospirosis.

9 out of 10 people have a mild form of leptospirosis and the outlook in such cases is very good. Most people recover fully within two to six weeks but some may take up to three months to get better. In more severe cases, the outlook depends on which organs of the body are involved and to what extent. Few people die from leptospirosis. Death is usually due to internal bleeding, kidney or lung complications. For those at very high risk of leptospirosis for a short period of time, the antibiotic doxycycline may be prescribed to reduce the chance of developing infection.

For mild cases, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics, such as tetracycline or penicillin. Patients with severe leptospirosis will need to be hospitalized and given antibiotics intravenously. Depending on which organs are affected, the patient may need a ventilator to assist in breathing, or dialysis, if the kidneys are affected. During pregnancy, it is possible for leptospirosis to affect the fetus, so a woman who has the infection while pregnant will need to be hospitalized for monitoring.