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Leptospirosis in Dogs

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects many mammals, including dogs and humans. Although cats are generally resistant, leptospirosis can still be transmitted to humans, making it a zoonotic disease.

Leptospirosis is manily caused by Leptospira canicola and Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. However, recent evidence indicates exposure to a wider range of serogroups, such as Leptospira grippotyphosa, Leptospira australis, and Leptospira sejroe.

Transmission:

Leptospires are primarily spread through the urine of reservoir hosts, which typically do not exhibit clinical signs. The bacteria can persist in the renal tubules for a long time, leading to ongoing environmental contamination. Incidental hosts can also become infected through direct contact with mucous membranes or damaged skin. More commonly, infection occurs indirectly through contact with soil or surface water contaminated with urine from infected animals, such as rodents, foxes, hedgehogs, or other dogs. Dogs in rural environments with access to rivers or lakes are at higher risk.

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Clinical signs:

• Pyrexia

• Vomiting, diarrhoea, altered appetite, abdominal pain

• Shivering; muscle pain or weakness

• Dehydration, oliguria, anuria (sometimes polyuria or polydipsia)

• Shock, tachycardia, arrhythmias

• Lethargy

• Bleeding disorders

• Coughing, dyspnoea or tachypnoea (rhinitis, tonsillitis in some cases)

• Icterus, hepatic encephalopathy

• Conjunctivitis, scleral injection, erythematous, bullous lesions, uveitis (which can be delayed for many weeks to months)

Treatment:

• To treat an infection, Doxycycline can be given at a dose of 5 mg/kg every 12 hours or 10 mg/kg every 24 hours for a period of 14 days.
• In patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, an intravenous penicillin derivative can be used initially. This may include a dose of 20 to 30 mg/kg of ampicillin given every six to eight hours, 20 to 30 mg/kg of amoxicillin given every six to eight hours, or 25,000 to 40,000 u/kg of penicillin given every six to eight hours.

Prevention:
•Vaccination; bivalent vaccines that include serogroups L icterohaemorrhagiae and L canicola are recommended.
• Education; veterinarians should inform pet owners about ways to prevent reinfection by limiting access to potential sources of infection such as external water sources and wildlife carriers.

Diagnosis Of CANINE Leptospirosis