LEPTOSPIROSIS IN MARTINIQUE FROM 1987 TO 1992 - RESULTS OF AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC, CLINICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDY

Leptospirosis exists as an endemic disease in Martinique, as well. as in all tropical regions. The observation, over six years, of the cases identified by the microbiology laboratory of the Fort de France Hospi tal, coupled to the data from the National Meteorology, makes it possi ble to evidence the strong Link which exists between rain-fall and the incidence of leptospirosis. The mean annual frequency over six years is of 6.3 per 100.000 inhabitants, i, e. 12 times that of the Metropol e. In 1991, this rate reaches 11,7 per 100.000. The observed lethality is of 9%. The predominant serovars are ictero-haemorrhagiae (ictero-h aemorrhagiae and copenhageni) (49%), panama (10%) and pyrogenes (9%). The symptomatology is identical to that classically described in the l iterature.