Leptospirosis in Argentina
Sunday, April 4th, 2010Leptospirosis was first identified in Argentina in 1915.
- Most cases are reported from Greater Buenos Aires.
- 276 cases were diagnosed in the Greater Buenos Aires area during 1990 to 1999 – 43 of these characterized by pneumonia.
- 32 cases (6 fatal) were reported in Santa Fe during the first two months of 2010.
The following graphs depict incidence and case rates of Leptospirosis in Argentina, and contrast these data with those of surrounding countries:

Notes:
Individual years:
1998 – Included 53 cases in Santa Fe and 16 in Buenos Aires.
2001 – Included 63 cases in Santa Fe and 89 in Buenos Aires.
2005 – Three fatal.

Twelve serovars were identified in human infection during the 1970′s, with most cases due to serovars bratislava, icterohaemorrhagiae and butembo.
- 41% of infections during 1984 to 1994 were due to Leptospira interrogans canicola.
Seroprevalence surveys:
15.7% of the population, nationwide (1976 publication)
8.7% of healthy persons in Corrientes and 0.5% in Neuquen are seropositive (1979 publication)
Reservoirs:
The principal hosts in this country are rats, pigs and dogs.
- 25% to 40% of rats and 10% to 60% of dogs in Buenos Aires are seropositive – most often toward L. interrogans canicola and L. i. pyrogenes.
- Antibody toward serovars pomona, hebdomadis group, pyrogenes, tarassovi, and canicola has been demonstrated in healthy horses.
Notable outbreaks:
1976 – An outbreak (10 cases) in Buenos Aires followed swimming in a drainage canal contaminated by pigs.
1977 (publication year) – An outbreak was reported among children in Longchamps, Buenos Aires Province.
1998 – An outbreak (12 confirmed and 2 suspicious cases) in Santa Fe was related to water.
2004 – An outbreak (12 suspect cases, 1 fatal) was reported in Entre Rios.
2007 – An outbreak (400 cases or more) was reported in Santa Fe.





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