Jennifer Raj1,2, Ruth Campbell3, Simon Tappin4. 1. Dick White Referrals, Station Farm, London Road, Six Mile Bottom, Cambridgeshire, UK. 2. Southfields Veterinary Specialists, 1 Bramston Way, Basildon, Essex, UK. 3. Dick White Referrals, Laboratory, Station Farm, London Road, Six Mile Bottom, Cambridgeshire, UK. 4. Dick White Referrals, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Station Farm, London Road, Six Mile Bottom, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide importance. This study describes the clinical findings and outcome of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis in England. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis from a single referral hospital located in Eastern England. RESULTS: Thirty-eight dogs met the inclusion criteria. Clinical signs included inappetence (76%), vomiting (68%), lethargy (58%), polydipsia and polyuria (18%) and abdominal pain (16%). Disease manifestations included hepatic and renal involvement (47%), hepatic only (37%), renal only (16%); no dogs were found to have respiratory involvement. Clinicopathological findings at presentation included anaemia (42%), thrombocytopenia (43%), increased alanine transaminase activity (ALT) (66%), hyperbilirubinemia (55%), azotaemia (68%), hypoalbuminaemia (49%) and glucosuria (32%). Seven serovars of Leptospira interrogans or Leptospira kirschneri were detected; the most prevalent was Copenhageni (48%). Seventy-one percent survived to discharge. Dogs in the non-surviving group had a higher creatinine at presentation compared to survivors (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Copenhageni was the most prevalent serovar in this population. This supports the use of a vaccine including this serovar, in this region. Renal involvement was associated with reduced survival to discharge. A hepatic only form was common in this population, and leptospirosis should be included as a differential diagnosis for dogs suffering with a hepatopathy. No cases had significant pulmonary involvement, but ongoing clinical vigilance for this disease manifestation is essential.
BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide importance. This study describes the clinical findings and outcome of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis in England. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis from a single referral hospital located in Eastern England. RESULTS: Thirty-eight dogs met the inclusion criteria. Clinical signs included inappetence (76%), vomiting (68%), lethargy (58%), polydipsia and polyuria (18%) and abdominal pain (16%). Disease manifestations included hepatic and renal involvement (47%), hepatic only (37%), renal only (16%); no dogs were found to have respiratory involvement. Clinicopathological findings at presentation included anaemia (42%), thrombocytopenia (43%), increased alanine transaminase activity (ALT) (66%), hyperbilirubinemia (55%), azotaemia (68%), hypoalbuminaemia (49%) and glucosuria (32%). Seven serovars of Leptospira interrogans or Leptospira kirschneri were detected; the most prevalent was Copenhageni (48%). Seventy-one percent survived to discharge. Dogs in the non-surviving group had a higher creatinine at presentation compared to survivors (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Copenhageni was the most prevalent serovar in this population. This supports the use of a vaccine including this serovar, in this region. Renal involvement was associated with reduced survival to discharge. A hepatic only form was common in this population, and leptospirosis should be included as a differential diagnosis for dogs suffering with a hepatopathy. No cases had significant pulmonary involvement, but ongoing clinical vigilance for this disease manifestation is essential.