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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #70031
Title: LEPTOSPIROSIS OUTBREAK ASSOCIATED WITH PULMONARY HEMORRHAGE, NICARAGUA, 1995

Author
item SPIEGEL, RICHARD - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item ASHFORD, D - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item TREVEJO, R - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item RIGAU-PEREZ, J - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item MCCLURE, E - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item AMADOR, J - MINISTRY OF HEALTH, NIC
item ZAKI, S - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item WEYANT, R - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item Bolin, Carole
item PERKINS, B - CDC, ATLANTA, GA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: During October and November, 1995, 2159 persons from two neighboring municipalities in Nicaragua presented to health centers with an unusual acute febrile illness. Twelve persons died in the two affected municipalities and as many as 49 died with pulmonary hemorrhage nationwide. Tissues from 13 of 14 fatal cases contained leptospires confirming the role eof leptospirosis in the outbreak. Active laboratory-based surveillance, i conjunction with a case-control study was carried out to identify the Leptospira serovar(s) responsible for illness, the reservoir of infection, and risk factors for illness. Swimming in a river and walking through creeks were significantly associated with illness. Leptospira isolates wer obtained from four humans, one rodent, six dogs, and one pig. Efforts are ongoing to fully characterize human and animal Leptospira isolates to determine the animal reservoirs of infection.