[Leptospirosis in Pomurje and Slovenia].

In Pomurje leptospirosis is endemic. During the years 1964-1985 there were 407 leptospiral cases reported in Slovenia, 366 of which were in Pomurje. Inclusion in this study required indication of leptospirae with a fourfold increase of the titer of antibodies or the isolation of leptospirae from hemocultures. In Pomurje in this period 214 men (58.47%) and 152 women (41.53%) were infected. The average morbidity rate was 12.75/100,000 inhabitants. The highest rate was in the country of Lendava (23.14/100,000). Ten serotypes were confirmed: grippotyphosa in 122 (33.33%) of the patients, sejroe in 91 (24.86%), icterohaemorrhagie in 50 (13.66%), saxkoebing in 48 (13.11%), australis in 47 (12.84%), canicola and pomona in two cases, tarassovi and autumnalis in one patient. In one case, the serotype could not be differentiated. The disease occurs throughout the years. In contrast to Western Europe in Pomurje there exists a much larger percent of infected women and a high percentage among the elderly. Two patients have died (mortality rate is 0.55%). One of them succumbed on the 5th day of infection due to massive bleeding in the heart and other organs. The other died on the 12th day under the influence of a severe Weil's syndrome.