HUWEL LIFESCIENCES PVT. LTD. Thriving on Science LEPTOSPIRA DETECTION About the disease/disease overview/additional info leptospira is a cock-screw shaped bacteria that causes leptospirosis. It is transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans. It is therefore a zoonosis. Human-to- human transmission occurs only very rarely. It is a genus of spirochaete bacteria. Upto 13 different genetic types of leptospira can affect humans. The symptoms are varied and sometimes maybe mistaken for another disease; from mild headaches to severe bleeding from lungs. When the infection causes the person to turn yellow, have kidney failure and bleeding, it is known as Weil’s disease. If it causes lots of bleeding from lungs, it is known as severe pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome. It is transmitted by wild and domestic animals. Rodents are the most common animals that spread disease. When animal urine (or water or soil that contains animal urine) comes in contact with breaks in eyes, skin, mouth or nose, the disease is transmitted. Consuming contaminated water may also cause infection. Farmers, mine workers, sewer workers, slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians, animal caretakers, fish and dairy farm workers, military personnel and poor people are most at risk. Without treatment, kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress and even death may occur. Protective gear must be used when working with potentially infected animals or environments. Symptoms : Leptospiral infection in humans causes a range of symptoms, and some infected people may have no symptoms at all. Leptospirosis is a biphasic disease that begins suddenly with fever accompanied by chills, intense headache, severe muscle ache, abdominal pain, conjunctival suffusion (red eye), and occasionally a skin rash. The symptoms appear after an incubation period of 7–12 days. The first phase (acute or septicemic phase) ends after 3–7 days of illness. The disappearance of symptoms coincides with the appearance of antibodies against Leptospira and the disappearance of the bacteria from the bloodstream. The patient is asymptomatic for 3–4 days until the second phase begins with another episode of fever. The most important trait of the second phase is meningitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the brain). 90 percent of cases of the disease are mild leptospirosis. The rest experience severe disease, which develops during the second stage or occurs as a single progressive illness. The classic form of severe leptospirosis is known as Weil's disease, which is characterized by liver damage (causing jaundice), kidney failure, and bleeding. Additionally, the heart and brain can be affected, meningitis of the outer layer of the brain, encephalitis of brain tissue with same signs and symptoms; and lung affected as the most serious and life- threatening of all leptospirosis complications. The infection is often incorrectly diagnosed due to the nonspecific symptoms. Other severe manifestations include extreme fatigue, hearing loss, respiratory distress, and azotemia. Treatment is with antibiotic. Vaccinations are also available and are highly recommended if one is working in or travelling to areas that are prone to leptospirosis. Incidence of leptospirosis infection among urban children seems to increasing. Preferred sample: BLOOD-EDTA and Urine Transport: To be transported at 4 degrees Methodology: PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) is used for detection. PCR is the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of Leptospira.. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is useful to detect leptospiral DNA in clinical samples, especially during initial phase of infection. Sensitivity of the assay is 4 copies of leptospiral genome/ PCR. Interpretive DATA: Detected/Not Detected HUWEL LIFESCIENCES PVT. LTD. Thriving on Science Note: Although all precautions are taken and results cross checked during Nucleic acid tests, the currently available data indicates the technical error rate for all such analysis is ~1-2%. The results assume that all the information regarding the patient and the sample are correct and should be interpreted and acted upon in the light of the information noted References: ARUP Laboratories: www.aruplab.com CDC: www.cdc.gov NIH: www.nih.gov Mayo clinic: www.mayoclinic.org Other journals, articles and websites .