Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis, heavily underestimated due to the diversity of clinical signs and symptoms and a lack of proper diagnostics. As a severe zoonosis leptospirosis is highly important in many areas as a primary cause of general infectious syndrome disease associated with renal and liver failure and also is very important in differential diagnosis of haemorrhagic fevers with renal syndrome. In regard with these facts WHO will publish general guidelines for leptospirosis. LeptoNet presented here should be considered as an extension to the guidelines. Also this website follows the trend set by International Leptospirosis Society  (ILS) which includes collection of more precise data about prevalence of leptospirosis worldwide, through direct contact with selected members of ILS in several countries
(WHO - Weekly Epidemiological Record 23. July 1999.)