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 mainly 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)

Diagnosis

The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) detects the presence of antibodies against Leptospira in a dog's blood. If the level of antibodies (called a titer) is high enough or can be shown to rise over time, then infection is confirmed. Other serology tests, such as ELISA or rapid test, are also applied to the detection of antibodies against Leptospira in a dog's blood.

Many molecular assays, including real-time PCR, have been developed that detect pathogenic Leptospira DNA in clinical specimens. Detection of leptospiral nucleic acid in blood or tissues is diagnostic for infection, while detection in kidney tissue or urine is consistent with either infection or colonization.

Pic Credit: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11040395

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.

Note

Bioguard’s Qmini PCR can detect Leptospira spp. DNA in 90 minutes at your clinics using EDTA-blood or urine as samples.

Achieving optimal outcomes through exceptional performance is a priority in any field, particularly in veterinary medicine. Thanks to advanced nucleic acid extraction technology and PCR TaqMan probe, our testing methodology provides unparalleled sensitivity and accuracy, enabling early detection of potentially infectious diseases and reducing the risk of further complications. This approach aids veterinarians in promptly treating unhealthy animals, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for our animal companions.

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