Leptospira: background document for the WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality
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World Health Organization
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ii, 10 p.
This background document supports the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality by reviewing the characteristics, transmission and public health significance of Leptospira in water environments and drinking-water systems. It describes the taxonomy, microbiology and epidemiology of pathogenic Leptospira species, which are zoonotic bacteria maintained primarily in rodents, dogs, cattle, swine and other mammals. The document outlines the clinical manifestations of leptospirosis, ranging from mild or subclinical infection to severe disease involving renal failure, liver failure, meningitis and pulmonary haemorrhage. It also highlights the global distribution of leptospirosis, particularly in tropical and flood-prone regions where environmental exposure to contaminated water is common. The publication summarizes evidence on the occurrence, persistence and transmission of Leptospira in sewage, surface water, groundwater and drinking-water sources contaminated by urine from infected animals. It emphasizes that transmission occurs mainly through skin or mucosal contact with contaminated water or soil rather than through the faecal–oral route, and notes that outbreaks linked to treated drinking-water have not been documented. The document also reviews culture-based and molecular detection methods and discusses prevention and management measures within water safety plans, including source protection, prevention of animal access to water storage systems, chlorination and ultraviolet disinfection. It further notes that Escherichia coli is not a suitable indicator for assessing the possible presence or absence of Leptospira in drinking-water.
This background document supports the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality by reviewing the characteristics, transmission and public health significance of Leptospira in water environments and drinking-water systems. It describes the taxonomy, microbiology and epidemiology of pathogenic Leptospira species, which are zoonotic bacteria maintained primarily in rodents, dogs, cattle, swine and other mammals. The document outlines the clinical manifestations of leptospirosis, ranging from mild or subclinical infection to severe disease involving renal failure, liver failure, meningitis and pulmonary haemorrhage. It also highlights the global distribution of leptospirosis, particularly in tropical and flood-prone regions where environmental exposure to contaminated water is common. The publication summarizes evidence on the occurrence, persistence and transmission of Leptospira in sewage, surface water, groundwater and drinking-water sources contaminated by urine from infected animals. It emphasizes that transmission occurs mainly through skin or mucosal contact with contaminated water or soil rather than through the faecal–oral route, and notes that outbreaks linked to treated drinking-water have not been documented. The document also reviews culture-based and molecular detection methods and discusses prevention and management measures within water safety plans, including source protection, prevention of animal access to water storage systems, chlorination and ultraviolet disinfection. It further notes that Escherichia coli is not a suitable indicator for assessing the possible presence or absence of Leptospira in drinking-water.