Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and survival in 42 dogs with leptospirosis by serogroup
By Geisen, V et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2007·Ludwig Maximillians University Munich, Germany·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Canine leptospirosis infections - clinical signs and outcome with different suspected Leptospira serogroups (42 cases).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 42 dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis showed various clinical signs, including fever and lethargy, after being exposed to different strains of the bacteria. The most common strain found was grippotyphosa, but the dogs' symptoms and lab results were similar regardless of the strain. Unfortunately, the vaccines available in Europe do not protect against these prevalent strains, which means that many dogs could still be at risk for this serious infection. Treatment typically involves antibiotics and supportive care, and many dogs can recover with prompt veterinary attention.
People also search for: dog leptospirosis symptoms · leptospirosis treatment for dogs · dog vaccine effectiveness for leptospirosis
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of serum antibodies to different Leptospira serogroups in dogs with a clinical diagnosis of leptospirosis in southern Germany and to compare seroreactivity to different serogroups with history, clinical signs, laboratory findings and survival rate. METHODS: In this study, the data of 42 dogs with the diagnosis of leptospirosis were evaluated retrospectively. Dogs were presented to the Small Animal Medicine Teaching Hospital (Medizinische Kleintierklinik) of the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany, between 1990 to 2003. RESULTS: Reactivity to the serogroup grippotyphosa (13/42) was most frequently present, followed by reactivity to the serogroup saxkoebing (10/42). There was no difference in the clinical picture and the laboratory changes between dogs whose sera were reactive to different serogroups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Most of the dogs with leptospirosis in southern Germany had sera reacting to serogroups other than icterohaemorrhagiae and canicola, which are contained in the vaccine. Thus, currently available vaccines in Europe do not protect against the most common Leptospira organisms associated with clinical disease.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17490440/