Leptospirosis among dairy workers in the valley of Jezreel: first recorded isolation of Leptospira hardjo in Israel
Shenberg, E.; Bitnun, S.; Birnbaum, S.H.
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 13(4): 377-384
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2180 PMID: 873758 Document Number: 115009
Five cases of leptospirosis among dairy farmers in the Valley of Jezreel, Israel, are described. Serological tests showed that in all 5 patients the disease was caused by serotype hardjo and epidemiological evidence suggested that the infection was acquired from cows. This is the first time Leptospira hardjo has been isolated and identified in Israel. Infection with L. hardjo should be regarded as a significant occupational risk and this strain should be included in the group of antigens used for screening sera for Leptospira antibodies in Israel. 5 workers on the dairy farm of a Kibbutz contracted leptospirosis, the causal organism being identified as Leptospira hardjo. All the patients had had direct contact with cows. 6 of 10 cows subjected to leptospiral agglutination tests showed positive titres with serotypes hardjo and sejroe, suggesting that the cows were the source of the human infection. However, no isolation of the causal organisms from the cows was attempted. 5 workers on the dairy farm of a Kibbutz contracted leptospirosis, the causal organism being identified as Leptospira hardjo. All the patients had had direct contact with cows. 6 of 10 cows subjected to leptospiral agglutination tests showed positive titres with serotypes hardjo and sejroe, suggesting that the cows were the source of the human infection. However, no isolation of the causal organisms from the cows was attempted.