Diagnosis of Human Leptospirosis: Methods for Detection of Disease

Leptospirosis is caused by infection with pathogenic leptospires: helical, shaped motile spirochetes which belong to the the order spirochaetales family leptospiracae, genus leptospira. Has a composition similar to other Gram-negative bacteria, but with less endotoxic activity. They are responsible for worldwide zoonosis.The core determinants of transmission are the present of carriers, particularly wild rodents, suitable environment for survival of leptospires and interaction between human, animals and environment. Serology remains the key diagnostic. Several serological techniques are available but the gold standard remains the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), reserved to specialized laboratories because they require the maintenance of twenty strains