LEPTOSPIROSIS - A CAUSE OF PSEUDO-MALARIA L FEVER IN GABON

A first case of leptospirosis has been recently described in Gabon whe re bioclinatological characteristics could favour the transmission of that disease. Therefore, a search for antibodies to leptospirae was co nducted among 55 military Frenchman with inexplicated fever during a f our-month stay in Gabon. Three (5,5%) were positive with IgM levels at testing for recent contamination. A screening antigenic battery identi fied L. bataviae in two cases and L. sejroe in one case. The three pat ients were employed outside in the precedent weeks. Travelers are expo sed to leptospirosis in numerous Third-World countries. Clinical and b iological similarities between leptospirosis and P. falciparum malaria could induce misdiagnosis. Co-infection could also be encountered. Do xycyline, whose activity against P. falciparum is well known, is also effective against leptospirae. Therefore, this drug seems valuable for prophylactic and therapeutic actions in aeras exposed to the both dis eases.