To date, 21 species and .300 serovars have been identifiedin the genus Leptospira, among which five ‘intermediate’species (Leptospira inadai, Leptospira broomii, Leptospira
fainei, Leptospira wolffii and Leptospira licerasiae) are of
unclear pathogenicity and form a group distinct from those
that are known pathogens and saprophytes (Cerqueira &
Picardeau, 2009).