HUMAN LEPTOSPIROSIS IN ITALY, 1986-1993

In the eight-year period 1986-1993, the Italian National Center for Le ptospirosis and the Regional Leptospira Laboratories confirmed 312 cas es of clinical leptospirosis by using the microscopic agglutination (M A) assay. The majority of cases was observed in Northern regions of th e Country. Cases were reported in all age groups, but were most common in the working-age population. Of 312 cases, 291 (93.3%) occurred amo ng males. The largest number of infections was ascribed to occupationa l activities (45.8%). The typical leptospiral seasonal course, with a peak during the summer, was observed. Involvement of the liver was the most frequent manifestation. Influenza-like symptoms were the only si gns of illness in 11.1% of cases. Anti-leptospira antibodies, cross-re acting with two or more serovars, were found in 28.2% of sera. The mos t frequent serovar-specific antibodies were those against poi, icteroh aemorrhagiae, bratislava, copenhageni and sejroe.