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From fever to liver and kidney damage: How serious is the two-stage infection caused by L. interrogans?
Leptospira interrogans, a screwdriver-shaped bacterium found mainly in tropical, warm regions, may survive in soil or water for weeks or even months. It is one of the pathogens that causes many mammalian infections and is pathogenic to wild and domestic animals, even pet dogs. Even more worrying is that these bacteria can be spread to humans through contact with contaminated water or soil, and through their urine. Infection can cause flu-like symptoms and is more likely to cause liver and kidney damage, with people at particular risk who work closely with animals, such as farmers and veterinarians.
"L. interrogans infection typically occurs in two stages, with the first stage manifesting with fever, headache and nausea, while the second stage may lead to more severe symptoms such as bleeding and renal tubular failure."
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Looking further, this bacterial feeding has its own unique features. L. interrogans is an aerobic bacterium that relies on long-chain fatty acids for energy production. The bacterium produces ATP through oxidative phosphorylation, with oxygen and peroxide as its main electron acceptors. Its genome consists of two circular chromosomes and contains up to 3,700 protein-coding genes, which enable it to survive and reproduce in specific environments better than other bacteria.
Decryption of two-stage infection
During the initial anicteric phase of infection, patients may experience non-specific symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pain and vomiting. However, most people stop at this stage and do not progress to the more serious second stage, which is jaundice. This stage is often called Weil's disease, and its symptoms include liver enlargement, jaundice, and kidney tubular damage, which can lead to organ failure in severe cases.
"Even after infection is confirmed, the different circulating strains of L. interrogans complicate vaccine development, and existing vaccines have limited effectiveness and require frequent booster shots."
Treatment of infections caused by L. interrogans mainly relies on antibiotics, including penicillin and doxycycline. However, faced with the challenge of more than 200 pathogenic serotypes, the effectiveness of vaccines is still unsatisfactory, making post-infection recovery more urgent and complicated.
Environment and epidemiology
L. interrogans is primarily a host-associated bacterium, and infections are more common in tropical regions. During the infection, the bacteria initially invade the blood and then spread to multiple organs, especially the kidneys. In the relevant literature, rats are considered to be the main carriers of local outbreaks, continuously excreting pathogens in their urine without showing symptoms. Furthermore, these pathogens can enter a new host through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes.
"During infection, L. interrogans is able to enter the body through exposed wounds, but is unable to cross an intact skin barrier."
Of course, the spread of these pathogens in society is not limited to animals. As the environment changes, water sources in certain areas have also become potential sources of infection. L. interrogans can survive for long periods of time in fresh water, and suitable living conditions make prevention and control more difficult.
Pathology and Pathogenic Mechanisms
At the pathological level, L. interrogans is able to induce a biphasic response, engaging in a complex interaction with the host's immune system. Studies have shown that this bacterium can cause damage to the endothelial cell membrane, leading to infection in almost all organs. This potential harm should be paid attention to. In dogs, the bacteria triggers a strong inflammatory response and leads to premature birth and miscarriage of the fetus.
"It can be said that the reproduction and survival of L. interrogans depends not only on the appropriate environmental conditions, but also on the pathological characteristics formed during its evolution."
With global climate change and accelerated urbanization, the transmission pathways and risks of L. interrogans may further increase. We may need to re-examine safety measures when interacting with animals and the importance of environmental decontamination. Faced with this series of complex issues, how to effectively prevent and control potential infection risks is worthy of deep thought by each of us?
