Q. What is Leptospirosis?
A. Leptospirosis is a disease that is caused by a bacterial spirochete, Leptospira spp. The Leptospira genus has many species. Some are benign, called saprophytic, others are pathogenic species that cause illness. The American College of Internal Medicine (ACVIM) has taken several years to study and updated the consensus statement on Leptospirosis. The updated information on this disease, prevention, and treatment gives revised guidance to veterinarians.
L
eptospira spp. is found in rodents, especially rats. The bacteria is spread by the bodily fluids of the infected animal. It will live for weeks to months in stagnate water and saturated soil, like mud, bogs, and soggy soil. Dogs and people can be infected with the bacteria through contact of their mucus membranes and broken skin. If the dog eats an infected rodent, he can get the disease. People can also be infected by handling contaminated pee without practicing good hygiene. Other dogs can acquire it by licking infected dog’s urine. Because of the increased rain and flooding, the risk of this disease has been on the rise. Leptospira spp. can also withstand freezing. In the Northeast the disease is more prevalent in the fall.
The acute disease primarily affects the kidneys and liver. It has been known to affect other organs too, such as, pancreas, heart, lungs, and eyes. Because the disease can progress rapidly, the ACVIM recommends any case of acute fever should consider Leptospirosis as a possibility, especially if the dog is unvaccinated and lives in a suspicious environment.
Before antibiotic treatment is started, blood and urine samples are collected. If the symptoms don’t resolve quickly, these samples should be sent to the lab for testing. If leptospirosis is suspected, treatment should be started immediately, and the dog should be closely monitored with supportive treatment.
Dogs and people will first exhibit flu-like symptoms. Other symptoms commonly seen are fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, jaundice, abdominal pain, severe weakness, depression, stiffness, lack of appetite, and severe muscle pain. Symptoms start two to fourteen days after exposure to the bacteria. This phase of the disease can last three to ten days. Some dogs will recover, but many will progress to the more life-threatening phase of the disease. Puppies, geriatrics, and immune compromised dogs are at higher risk of severe disease.
The AVCIM states all dogs are at risk. This includes puppies, elderly, urban and rural dogs, house dogs and outside dogs. For this reason, the guidelines recommend all dogs to be vaccinated against leptospirosis. They recommend starting at 12 weeks with a booster in a month, then yearly. Vaccines against Leptospirosis are an adjuvanted killed whole-cell bacterium and have four serotypes of the bacteria. Because of this, the vaccine may cause acute adverse reactions, seen mostly in small, white dogs, and puppies. The AVCIM recommends giving this vaccine separately and at a different time from the other vaccines to reduce this risk. There are newer non-adjuvant Leptospirosis vaccines coming on the market which may prevent adverse reactions.
Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH
Animal Wellness Center
Augusta, Maine
www.mainehomeopahticvet.com
