Leptospirosis
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Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that can pass from animals to humans.
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It is a bacterial disease that damages the liver and kidneys of dogs, sometimes resulting in renal failure and death./font>
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It is caused by a spirochete (spiral shaped bacterium) called a leptospire.
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Leptospires live in fluids from infected animals, including urine, saliva, blood and milk.
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The disease is transmitted by direct contact with the fluids or with an infected animal.
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It is also transmitted by indirect contact such as vegetation, food and water, soil and bedding materials.
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Leptospires enter the body through mucous membranes or through breaks in the skin.
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The disease may be carried for years in animals without any apparent symptoms of the disease.
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Any age, breed or sex of dog is susceptible to leptospirosis, although in general, young animals are more severely affected than adults.
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Large breed outdoor adult dogs are most commonly affected.
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Leptospirosis can cause irreversible kidney damage, liver damage, uveitis (inflammation of the inner part of the eye), and damage to other organs./font>
Diagnosis
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Your veterinarian will want to do a complete review of history and physical exam findings to develop a list of possible causes for your dog's illness.
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In order to make a definitive diagnosis of Leptospirosis, however, various diagnostic tests may be recommended.
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Leptospirosis test: A microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is the most frequently used serological test for Leptospirosis.
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It evaluates the presence of serum antibodies to Leptospirosis antigens.
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General blood and urine tests
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Kidney biopsy /font>
Treatment
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If the disease is caught in time, it can usually be treated successfully with penicillin and tetracycline drugs./font>
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However, those with renal failure may or may not recover, or may recover only partial renal function.
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Animals with acute renal failure should be treated with appropriate fluid therapy.
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Last modified: Thursday, 7 June 2012, 11:18 AM