Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine leptospirosis outbreak signs and diagnosis in Arizona dogs
By Iverson, Sally Ann et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2021·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological features of a community-wide outbreak of canine leptospirosis in a low-prevalence region (Maricopa County, Arizona).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Maricopa County, Arizona, experienced an outbreak of leptospirosis, a serious infection that can cause symptoms like fever, vomiting, and lethargy. Out of 71 affected dogs, 54 were confirmed cases, with many having visited dog daycare or boarding facilities shortly before getting sick. The outbreak was linked to two specific strains of the bacteria, which were detected through testing. This situation highlights the importance of vaccination and being cautious about where dogs gather, even in areas where leptospirosis is not commonly seen.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological features of an outbreak of leptospirosis in dogs in Maricopa County, Ariz, from January 2016 through June 2017. ANIMALS: 71 case and 281 control dogs. PROCEDURES: Cases were classified as confirmed, probable, suspect, or not a case on the basis of medical record data that fulfilled clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological criteria. Potential exposures were assessed by owner survey. For the case-control investigation, control dogs were recruited through owner completion of a July 2017 survey. Summary statistics and ORs for case dog lifestyle factors were reported. RESULTS: 54 dogs were classified as confirmed and 17 as probable cases. For 4 dogs of a household cluster (5 confirmed and 3 probable), the highest microscopic agglutination titer was for serovar Djasiman (detected by PCR assay), and for 13 dogs of a community outbreak (49 confirmed and 14 probable cases), the highest titer was for serovar Canicola (detected by PCR assay). The 44 case dogs included in the case-control investigation were 7.7 (95% CI, 3.5 to 16.7) and 2.9 times (95% CI, 1.3 to 6.6) as likely as control dogs to have visited dog daycare or to have been kenneled overnight at a boarding facility, respectively, 30 days prior to the onset of clinical signs or diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Diagnostic and epidemiological findings indicated 2 outbreaks. Transmission where dogs congregated likely propagated the community outbreak. Outbreaks of leptospiral infections can occur in regions of low prevalence, and a dog's exposure to areas where dogs congregate should be considered when makingvaccination recommendations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33683958/