Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine leptospirosis and environmental risks in coastal New South
By Lu, Xiao et al.·Published in Preventive veterinary medicine·2026·Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine leptospirosis and environmental risk factors in coastal New South Wales, Australia (2021 - 2023).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A number of dogs in southeastern New South Wales were diagnosed with leptospirosis, a serious infection that can be spread from animals to humans. This outbreak was linked to environmental factors, particularly after heavy flooding in March 2022, which created conditions favorable for the bacteria. Areas near lakes and nature reserves saw higher rates of infection, while neighborhoods with more recreational spaces had lower rates. Pet owners are encouraged to be vigilant during extreme weather events, as these can increase the risk of leptospirosis in dogs.
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Abstract
Canine leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease that has been long neglected in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Clinical canine leptospirosis cases in Shoalhaven, southeastern NSW from October 2021 to May 2023 were analysed to examine associations between environmental factors and the local occurrence of canine leptospirosis. Poisson models (log-transformed canine population offset and adjusted for the Index of Economic Resources) of spatial (landscape factors adjusted for economic status) and temporal environmental factors (lagged weekly climate variables) were fit to the data. During the 2022 Australian winter, a significant spatio-temporal cluster of canine leptospirosis was detected near lakes, overlapping with the areas heavily flooded in March 2022. In areas surrounding case residential addresses, the rate of canine leptospirosis was increased by the presence of nature conservation areas [Risk Ratio (RR) = 2.47, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.0 - 6.06, p = 0.047] and reduced by the presence of recreational areas within the relevant neighbourhood (RR = 0.13, 95 % CI 0.04 - 0.34, p < 0.001). The preceding extreme climate events (extreme heat and extreme precipitation) influenced the rate of canine leptospirosis in opposite ways, with extreme rainfall at lag -13, -10 and -9 weeks significantly increased rate. The re-emergence of canine leptospirosis in southern NSW was multifactorial, with hydrological events likely the main driving factor. Increased pet owner awareness during and following such events is advocated.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41274079/