A waterborne outbreak of leptospirosis.
During the period from July 10-26, 1984, 33 cases of serologically confirmed leptospirosis occurred in a small town in central Italy. The fatality rate, including the deaths of two unconfirmed cases, was 8.6% (3 of 35). Based on serologic evidence, the infection was caused by leptospires of the serogroup Australis. Epidemiologic study showed that the patients contracted the infection by drinking water from a fountain. The source of leptospiral contamination was probably a hedgehog trapped in a reservoir of water not in use but still connected to the water system of the fountain.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006364:Hedgehogs / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007919:Leptospira / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial