Leptospirosis in vulnerable populations: a brief review

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis classified as a tropical neglected disease which mainly affects populations of peripheral areas and with low socioeconomic level. Disease epidemiology has socioenvironmental aspect and complex pathogeny, presenting expressive lethality in developing countries, emphasizing the tight connection with vulnerability. Disease has already been reported in vulnerable population such as indigenous communities, homeless and peripheral communities since these groups are exposed to main risk factors of disease. As consequence and characteristic of neglected diseases, there is little financial governmental and pharmaceutical investment on preventive measures and health surveillance for leptospirosis. Despite a lack in studies of incidence and prevalence in vulnerable populations, evidence has shown the severe impairment on health of such populations.