Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic infection with a much greater inciden ce in tropical regions and has now been identified as one of the emerging i nfectious diseases. The epidemiology of leptospirosis has been modified by changes in animal husbandry, climate, and human behavior. Resurgent interes t in leptospirosis has resulted from large outbreaks that have received sig nificant publicity. The development of simpler; rapid assays for diagnosis has been based largely on the recognition that early initiation of antibiot ic therapy is important in acute disease bur also on the need for assays wh ich can be used more widely. In this review tire complex taxonomy of leptos pires, previously based on serology and recently modified by a genotypic cl assification, is discussed, and the clinical and epidemiological value of m olecular diagnosis and typing is also evaluated.