Leptospirosis News and Research

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The pathogenic bacterial spirochetes of the Leptospiragenus are responsible for the infectious disease called leptospirosis. Both humans and animals can be infected and it is one of the most common infectious diseases of animals that can be transmitted naturally to humans. About 9 in every 10 people affected will experience mild flu-like symptoms. These include myalgia (muscle pain), chills, and headaches in the early stages. More severe presentations of the disease include internal hemorrhaging and multiple organ failure, which is life-threatening and is referred to as Weil’s disease.

The essential role of the MPL36 protein in leptospirosis

The Leptospira membrane protein L36 (MPL36) is essential for its pathogenesis.

31 Jul 2023

SOUND-control: A COST Action advancing cattle disease control in Europe

Europe has faced its fair share of animal health crises, like the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, Avian influenza in the Netherlands (2003), and African swine fever. But what about the diseases present in many countries that don't grab the headlines?

12 Jul 2023

Why cheap, older drugs that might treat covid never get out of the lab

In March 2020, Dr. Joseph Vinetz left the contemplative world of his Yale University infectious-disease laboratory and plunged into the covid ward at Yale New Haven Hospital, joining an army of health care workers who struggled to treat the deadly viral disease.

19 Apr 2022

Study investigates if COVID-19 restrictions were associated with differences in health and lifestyle of Labradors

A new study investigated whether COVID-19 restrictions were associated with differences in Dogslife Labrador Retrievers' lifestyle.

15 Feb 2022

How did the COVID pandemic affect the spread of other zoonotic diseases?

In new research, scientists from the Beijing University of Technology have been investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and mortality of zoonotic diseases in China. Their work is published in the journal BMJ Global Health.

12 Jan 2022

Penn scientists win 2021 Lasker Award for the discovery of therapeutic mRNA technology

As mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are deployed to protect hundreds of millions of people across the world and point the way to end the deadly global COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Pennsylvania scientists whose prescient discovery science effort laid the foundation for swift vaccine development have been awarded the 2021 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award.

24 Sep 2021

Quick, inexpensive leptospirosis test strip kit to help lower death and disability risk

The Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University has brought out a quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-use leptospirosis test strip kit to help lower the risk of disability from internal organ failure and death, with the hopes of distributing them to community hospitals across the country.

14 Aug 2021

Could the European hedgehog be a sentinel for infectious agents and a harbinger of environmental pollution?

A recent review paper by Portuguese and Spanish authors, recently published in the journal Biologics, revealed the current state of knowledge regarding hedgehog health – most notably the presence of infectious agents, diseases and other threats that can affect the health of the population.

21 Jun 2021

Single-dose universal vaccine could protect against leptospirosis bacteria

Scientists have designed a single-dose universal vaccine that could protect against the many forms of leptospirosis bacteria, according to a study published today in eLife.

26 Jan 2021

Invasive alien species threaten biological diversity, shows study

The raccoon, raccoon dog, mink, and golden jackal are not native to Germany or Europe but are increasingly spreading in these non-native regions.

8 Dec 2020

Pets have a low risk of transmitting multi-drug resistant bugs to owners, study finds

Zoonoses are diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. About 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonoses, just like the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that’s caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Domesticated animals such as pets can carry parasites and other pathogens to people. However, a new study suggests that pets are not a significant source of transmission to humans.

21 Apr 2020

Malaysian researchers discover new Leptospira strain capable of infecting humans

Malaysian researchers have identified the two species of the Leptospira genus of bacteria responsible for most cases of leptospirosis in the country and discovered a new strain capable of infecting humans.

21 Apr 2020

Infectious diseases from animals likely to cause further pandemics

As humans move to cities to settle, there is a sharp decline in biodiversity leading to several disturbances in the balance and relationship between humans and wild animals. A new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis' One Health Institute, shows that this has led to the spread of zoonotic viruses from animals to humans, such as COVID-19, which has caused a global pandemic involving over 184 countries and territories. The study was published in the latest issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

8 Apr 2020