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Revista Costarricense de Ciencias Médicas

Print version ISSN 0253-2948

Abstract

GARCIA JIMENEZ, Ricardo; BUSTAMANTE GARCIA, Warner; VILLALOBOS BASTOS, Silvia  and  MARIN NOGUERA, María Auxiliadora. Leptospira interrogans: primeros aislamientos de humanos en Costa Rica. Rev. costarric. cienc. méd [online]. 1998, vol.19, n.3-4, pp.147-154. ISSN 0253-2948.

This summary reports the main findings of an attempt to isolate Leptospira interrogans in blood in febrile patients at the Hospital de Ciudad Neily in Costa Rica during 1995 and 1996. Leptospirosis is an spirochaetal zoonosis that may cause wide clinical variation in humans. Early detection can be delayed if the disease is not suspected in acute febrile episodes. Also, bacterial diagnosis requieres specialized diagnostic procedures. Before this study, an epidemic of leptospirosis was observed in a neraby geographical area. During this epidemic period the diagnosis was established by clinical and serological methods. After that experience we decided to search and isolate the bacteria in human blood samples. To improve the posibilities we selected acute febrile patients with different conditions. During a 12 month period (from July 1995 to June 1996) 228 hemocultures were done. Among these 228, six positive blood cultures were obtained and identified as Leptospira interrogans. The blood samples of these cases were obtained during the period from July to September of 1995. Three cases were males, two females. In one case the sex was not registered. The period of isolation corresponds to the period of heavy precipitation in this part of the country. Two of the samples underwent further analysis at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Holland. Both correspond to Sejroe group. The bacteriological methods are described in detail.

Keywords : Leptospirosis; Culture isolation in humans.

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