Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine leptospirosis outbreak in Sydney linked to dog population
By Gong, James et al.·Published in Transboundary and emerging diseases·2022·Sydney School of Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Emerging canine leptospirosis in Sydney and the role of population demographics.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In 2017, an outbreak of leptospirosis, a serious bacterial infection, affected dogs in Sydney, Australia. During this time, 13 cases were reported, with a notable cluster occurring in the eastern area of the city between May and August 2019. The study found that the demographics of the dog population, including age and breed preferences, did not fully explain the outbreak, suggesting that environmental factors might be contributing to the spread of this disease. Pet owners should be aware of the risks of leptospirosis, especially in areas where outbreaks have been reported, and consult their veterinarian about vaccination and prevention strategies.
People also search for: dog leptospirosis symptoms · Sydney dog disease outbreak · how to prevent leptospirosis in dogs
Abstract
An outbreak of canine leptospirosis commenced in Sydney, Australia in 2017. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine if clusters of leptospirosis occurred during this outbreak, and if these were associated with host factors, to assist investigation of the drivers of emerging leptospirosis at this location. Within the City of Sydney local government area, 13 cases were reported during the outbreak. Administrative data on the canine population were collected and mapped. Clusters of leptospirosis cases were detected using a retrospective space-time analysis and a discrete Poisson probability statistical model. Sydney dog population registration [55.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 51.8-58.1%] was lower than the Australian national average (80%). The distribution of dog types, based on the United Kennel Club standards, was significantly (p < .0001) different to that of the national profile: there was a distinct preference in Sydney for companion dogs. The age distribution of dogs in Sydney did not reflect a typical right-skewed curve; instead, a relatively uniform distribution was observed between the age group of 1 to 8 years. A primary disease cluster (radius 1.1 km) in the eastern area of the Sydney City Council was identified (4 cases observed between 24 May and 9 August 2019 vs. 0.10 cases expected), p = .0450. When adjusted for the age, breed type and sex distribution of the population, similar clusters were identified; in the case of age-adjustment, the spatiotemporal cluster identified was larger and of longer duration (seven cases observed between 28 June and 11 November 2019 versus 0.34 cases expected), p = .0025. The presence of clusters of canine leptospirosis in the City of Sydney during this outbreak, which persisted after adjustment for demographics (age, sex, breed type), suggest that environmental factors - rather than host or pathogen factors - might be responsible for the emergence of leptospirosis. Environmental factors that potentially might be linked to this outbreak of canine leptospirosis and the clusters observed require investigation.
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/35533268/