Fatal Occupational Leptospirosis in a Beef Cattle Farmer: Case Report and Epidemiological Investigation.
Mara Maria Tiraboschi, Stefania Bosio, Davide Fando Teodori et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 56-year-old beef cattle farmer in Lombardy, Italy, died from occupational leptospirosis. Testing identified a strain of serogroup Javanica, with a microscopic agglutination test titre of 1:3,200 against serovar Poi. The investigation considered contaminated irrigation water the probable exposure route. The strain was not included in standard regional animal serological screening panels. Regional surveillance identified 16 confirmed cases over 22 months; 3 (18.8%) died and 1 (6.3%) had permanent disability, although the authors considered severe outcomes likely undercounted because of surveillance failures.
What made this case unusual
The probable exposure was contaminated irrigation water rather than direct livestock contact, and the implicated Javanica strain was absent from standard regional animal screening panels.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
In agricultural settings, consider environmental water exposure as a route of occupational leptospirosis, even without a clear livestock-contact pathway; routine animal screening panels may not include the implicated strain.
Why it matters
The regional investigation found an agricultural-environmental exposure nexus in 12 of 16 confirmed cases, underscoring the value of integrating occupational and veterinary surveillance with environmental risk assessment.