Protection of agricultural workers from benign leptospiroses

Abstract

Budući da su leptospiroze učestala oboljenja pretežno poljoprivrednika, potrebno je pristupiti njihovoj zaštiti od infekcija leptospirama. Daje se kratka patološka i epidemiološka karakteristika leptospiroza; iznose se načini infekcije poljoprivrednika i pripadnika drugih zanimanja leptospirama od domaćih životinja (psa, svinje, konja i goveda) i preko sredina kontaminiranih leptospirama iz urina murida. Zatim se razrađuje profilaksa leptospiroza, koja se sastoji od opće profilakse, s obzirom na muride, domaće životinje i osobne profilakse. Razmatraju se mogućnosti provođenja profilaktičkih mjera s obzirom na naše kulturno-ekonomske prilike.The benign leptospiroses are known to be occupational diseases of agricultural workers sometimes observed also among other professions like milkmen etc. In spite of the low fatality rate (0,5-1%) they represent a serious and long lasting illness with slow recovery. Frequent complications make the disease even worse. In 1947 the disease was first discovered in Croatia and since 1950 some systematic research has been started in that field. Two ways of infection are known: the direct, by contact with urine of rats or field and forest mice, or domestic animals (dogs, pigs, cattle. horse), and the indirect, by contact with surface water and soil (mamly during a flood period) infected with urine. The best prevention consists in avoiding the infection. Every case of leptospirosis should be registered. Physicians should try to make early diagnosis. Rats and mice should be ruthlessly destroyed. Through health propaganda the danger of the disease should be made clear to agricultural workers. Infected domestic animals should be treated with drugs which destroy leptospirae in kidneys (streptomycin and aureomycin). or if that cannot be done a desinfection of urine should be carried out. There should be a good water supply for men and cattle. Bathing on places admissible for cattle should not be permitted. Impermeable clothing should be worn as a personal prophylaxis and vaccination should be arranged for all those who are especially exposed