DANGEROUS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS!!!

Dr. Intan

Rat began sexually active as young as six weeks and can produce up to 170 calves during her life time.

Most of the people are shock when the deejay and radio personality and popular television, Din Beramboi reportedly had to be treated in intensive care unit (ICU) at Selayang Hospital after rat urine infected recently.

Several of theories suddenly appear much less after Din fell ill a few days after he was filmed at the National Zoo, Kuala Lumpur. However, Din confirmed death due to dengue haemorrhagic fever.

What is leptospirosis? Rat urine infection or known scientifically as leptospirosis is believed to spread from animals to humans and usually happen by accidentally.

According to the Veterinary Consultant, Dr. Intan Suriati Abdul Manaf, leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by Leptospira sp. which is very thin and spiral-shaped eyes of drill. Leptospira bacteria can live in fresh water for a month but it can also breed in salt water.

“Many types of animals can be carrier of the bacteria leptospira, no matter they are pets like cats, rabbits, cattle, pigs, horses, dog and other wild animals such as wolves. However, the rat is detected as the main carrier of these bacteria because their life cycle that likes to eat and live in dirty places which is the place of leptospira bacteria multiplies. The damp climate of the country is the main factors of these bacteria. In fact, the average temperature is the reason why it can live longer, "she said.

Intan added, the life cycle of rats that are multiply very quickly and difficult to control are the reason why the bacteria spread in vast.

Life expectancy female rats were between two and three years but it could have been pregnant and sexually active only within the past six weeks. Every birth, rats can produce five to seven young rats. On average, the life cycle of a female rat, it can be pregnant up to 28 times and produce up to 170 calves.

Leptospira bacteria are spread through the liquid produced by the rats as the urine, saliva, blood, semen and faeces. In fact, the pregnant female rat could transfer the bacteria to the baby. The bacteria from the urine of rats can also spread through water or soil. Touching a tree or contaminated wetlands also can transfer bacteria to humans.

Therefore, it is recommended to wearing gloves while doing gardening work and washing hands with antiseptic. The infection continued to Leptospira bacteria from the body of rats was reported but rarely occurs when animals such as cats or dogs drinking water from a pothole that has been contaminated with rat urine.

Normally, a cat who drink from stagnant water that has been contaminated with rat urine can be at high risk for the rat infection, leptospirosis. The owners of cat, like example who clean the cat and in touch of the urine, saliva, tissue or other wet surfaces of the cat will be exposed to this infection too.

Symptoms will appear within four to 12 days after the germs or bacteria Leptospira infect animals or humans. Typically bacteria can enter the body through wounds or soft tissues such as mouth, nose or eyes. If we hold the animals infected with leptospirosis and eating without washing hands, the bacteria will also enter the body before entering the bloodstream.

Bacteria will go straightly to the cells in the body including the liver and kidneys. In fact, the two organs is the main location of these bacteria. As a result, cells of vital organs of animals that attack bacteria will be damaged and failed to function, while blood vessels are broken up and the result will be urine of blood.

In serious cases, leptospirosis can cause death. The level of infection varies between individuals or animals in their resistance. It is difficult to identify this infection in the early stages as indicated very common symptom. Detailed of examination involving laboratory tests, blood tests, urine analysis and other tests should be done before it is due to Leptospira is know.

The symptoms will become more serious when the disease enters a second phase and third because it can cause kidney failure and liver damage. Once it is infected, Leptospira bacteria usually take about 10 days to reach the vital organs before shows the symptoms. During this period, treatment should be given to avoid unwanted complications.

As with other bacterial infections, leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics such as penicillin, streptomycin, eritromisin, tetrasiklin and doksisiklin. The cost of testing to identify high Leptospira bacteria causing most of the owners of infected animals was only taking care of the symptoms shown by their pet.

For this purpose, antibiotics are preferred, but it will not completely kill the bacteria but only relieve the symptoms of infection such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea or jaundice. Even after three month it still critically health, the bacteria are still present in the body.