Abstract

  Leptospirosis is a serious zoonotic infection and the most prevalence disease in tropical and subtropical region such as north of Iran. Leptospires can gain entry into humans through different ways and it is associated with a very broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Patients are asymptotic or present influenza-like illness symptoms in the first phase of infection therefore early diagnosis is faced to quite difficulty. Generally, lack of early diagnosis lead to disease progression and make it difficult to treat. However, it is possible to reduce and/or prevent infection development and its treatment by timely and successful early diagnosis. Increasing our knowledge in the pathogenesis and diagnostic methods of leptospirosis is essential not only because of more complication and severe forms of the disease occur due to lack of timely diagnosis but also the awareness of the leptospirosis among general physicians and health works are not satisfied. The aim of this review is to improve knowledge about pathogenesis of leptospira and accurate and timely detection, these will affect in adaptation the best therapeutic strategies particularly in endemic region and among high risk peoples.