Human leptospirosis in New South Wales, 1975-1985.

From July 1975 to June 1985, 14,630 sera from patients in New South Wales were tested for serological evidence of leptospirosis. Among these, 361 sera contained evidence of past infections and 150 of these 361 specimens had evidence of recent or current infections. Serologically-diagnosed cases of leptospirosis were distributed mainly in the central and eastern parts of the State. Pomona, hardjo and icterohaemorrhagiae were the most common serovars to be detected; male abattoir workers and farmers were the most common occupational groups that were infected. An increase in seropositive cases occurred from 1981, largely due to hardjo and to a lesser extent pomona infections among farmers. Clinical histories indicated that most cases presented as pyrexias of unknown origin or as febrile illnesses; however, four patients were reported to have presented with renal failure; three patients were reported to have presented with meningitis; and 10 patients were jaundiced at presentation.