Definition of Leptospira

1. Noun. Important pathogens causing Weil's disease or canicola fever.

Generic synonyms: Spirochaete, Spirochete
Group relationships: Genus Leptospira

Medical Definition of Leptospira

1. Genus of Spirochaete bacteria that cause a mild chronic infection in rats and many domestic animals. The bacteria are excreted continuously in the urine and contact with infected urine or water can result in infection of humans via cuts or breaks in the skin. Infection causes leptospirosis or Weil's disease, a type of jaundice, that is an occupational hazard for sewerage and farm workers. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Leptospira

Leptarrhena
Leptarrhena pyrolifolia
Leptinotarsa
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Leptodactylidae
Leptodactylus
Leptodactylus pentadactylus
Leptoglossus
Leptolithic
Leptopteris
Leptopteris superba
Leptoptilus
Leptoptilus crumeniferus
Leptoptilus dubius
Leptospira (current term)
Leptotrichia
Leptotrombidium
Leptotyphlopidae
Leptotyphlops
Leptotyphlops humilis
Lepus
Lepus americanus
Lepus arcticus
Lepus californicus
Lepus europaeus
Lepus townsendi
Ler
Leri
Leri's pleonosteosis

Literary usage of Leptospira

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Journal of Experimental Medicine by Rockefeller University, Rockefeller Institute, Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (1920)
"Morphology, Cultural Properties, and Virulence of the Strain of Leptospira Isolated in Merida. The morphological features and cultural properties of the ..."

2. Progressive Medicine by Hobart Amory Hare (1920)
"Immune serum was prepared in rabbits by injecting different strains of the Guayaquil leptospira. These sera had marked agglutinating and disintegrating ..."

3. A Text-book of General Bacteriology by Edwin Oakes Jordan (1921)
"are analogous with those of syphilis, and contain Treponema pertenue in large numbers in practically pure culture. YELLOW FEVER (Leptospira ..."

4. General Medicine (1920)
"Careful but by no means exhaustive dark- field searches for the leptospira with fresh specimens of blood from the remaining cases of yellow fever ..."

5. Bacteriology, General, Pathological and Intestinal by Arthur Isaac Kendall (1921)
"Guinea-pigs are the most satisfactory experimental animals for the study of the pathogenicity of the Leptospira. The incubation period is from three to six ..."

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