摘要
Bacteria of the genus Leptospira are ubiquitous, associated with most mammals, and with marsupials and certain amphibia, or found free-living in soil and surface waters. Some strains of leptospires can cause an acute generalized infection, characterized by fever and hemorrhages, called leptospirosis. Leptospires may remain and grow in the kidneys of animals that recover from the acute infection but remain renal excretors or carriers, shedding leptospires in their urine. Humans may be infected but do not remain carriers and are thus not natural hosts.
摘要译文
钩端螺旋体属的细菌普遍存在，与大多数哺乳动物有关，与有袋动物和某些两栖动物有关，或者发现自由生活在土壤和地表水中。一些钩端螺旋体菌株可引起急性全身性感染，其特征为发热和出血，称为钩端螺旋体病。钩端螺旋体可以在从急性感染恢复的动物的肾脏中保留和生长，但仍然是肾脏分泌物或携带者，在其尿液中脱落了钩端螺旋体。人类可能被感染但不是保持载体，因此不是天然宿主。
Solly Faine. The Genus Leptospira. The Prokaryotes[M].DE: Springer, 1992: 3568-3582