Leptospirosis — Time for a Booster

The term "leptospirosis" is now applied to diseases that may have multiple clinical presentations and are caused by any of the more than 170 serotypes of leptospires, of which at least 27 occur naturally in the United States. Leptospirosis occurs throughout the world, especially in the tropics. In Thailand and Vietnam, 15 to 27 per cent of persons tested have antibodies. Studies to define the causes of "fevers of unknown origin" in U.S. troops in Vietnam demonstrated that 1 to 17 per cent were associated with leptospirosis.1 , 2 In military units in Panama, attack rates ranging from 2 to 8 per . . .