Leptospirosis in humans
Leptospirosis is classified as a zoonosis disease because it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The condition becomes a large epidemic, usually after heavy rainfall and flooding in monsoon seasons in the tropical and subtropical regions. The infection is the result of direct or indirect exposure to the bacteria. When the pathogens are contracted, they travel through the host’s body and settle down in the renal tubules. The shedding of pathogenic Leptospira takes place through the passage of urine.
The most common animal involved in this zoonotic disease is brown rats. People who live in urban slum environments and rural places are more at risk of developing this disease. Poor housing conditions, poor lifestyle, and increased exposure of humans to rats make Leptospirosis typical among humans.
A study published in the NCBI in coordination with NIH shows that most infections of Leptospirosis in humans are only mild to moderate, and there is no sign of fatality. Some of the infections are even asymptomatic and resolve with time. The mortality in humans is only seen in cases of infections occurring in 60 years old and patients above this age. A cytokine storm is observed in the patients if the infection is severe. People with HLA DQ6 alleles are at higher risk of developing the disease.
