Leptospirosis may have severe long-term consequences

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-02-17 00:01

New Zealand

PHOTO: Pixabay

Researchers interviewed a small group of New Zealanders who reported having long-term symptoms after getting infected with leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is an important bacterial disease worldwide, and can also be found in countries which have pastoral livestock industries, like New Zealand. The six men reported exhaustion, brain fog and mood swings, and their relationships were severely affected - only two returned to their pre-leptospirosis careers. Participants reported that employers and the ACC were dismissive of post-leptospirosis symptoms, and they advised others to take measures to protect themselves from risk, such as making sure the livestock they were working with were vaccinated. The team suggests more research into the area.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

Our pilot study described six people who reported post-leptospirosis symptoms (PLS). We used face-to-face, semi-structured interviews to capture their experiences and to gain understanding of the impact and burden of PLS. The participants were male, had been employed in slaughter plants (n=2) or farming (n=4) when they first contracted leptospirosis and claimed to have been suffering from PLS for 1–35 years. Symptoms included exhaustion, brain fog and mood swings, and participants’ lifestyles and relationships were severely affected. Leptospirosis may have severe long-term consequences for patients, their families, and their communities.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: Massey University, Southern Rangitikei Veterinary Services, NZ; Clinical Psychologist, registered, private practice, NZ

Funder: We thank Tāwharau Ora, the School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, for S.M.’s scholarship; the Hawke’s Bay Medical Research Foundation for a grant in aid and for further support of S.M.’s scholarship, and the New Zealand Health Research Council 18/239 for partially funding J.C.E. and J.B. while writing this manuscript.

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