Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leptospira types found in dogs and rodents in Trinidad
By Suepaul, S M et al.·Published in Epidemiology and infection·2010·School of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serovars of Leptospira isolated from dogs and rodents.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 15% of dogs tested in Trinidad had leptospirosis, a serious infection that can cause kidney and liver problems. The most common strain found in sick dogs was called Copenhageni, which is not included in the vaccines currently used for dogs in the area. This suggests that the vaccines may not be effective against this strain, leading to cases of the disease even in vaccinated dogs. It's important for pet owners to be aware of the risks and symptoms of leptospirosis, especially if their dog has been in contact with rodents or standing water.
People also search for: dog leptospirosis symptoms · leptospirosis vaccine effectiveness · why is my dog sick after vaccination
Abstract
We determined the frequency of isolation of Leptospira from dogs and rodents, the serovars of Leptospira, and the clinical, gross and histological manifestations in dogs with leptospirosis in Trinidad. From dogs, samples of urine, blood and kidney were collected while only kidney and blood samples of trapped rodents were used. Isolates were cultured and serotyped using a panel of 23 international serovars and monoclonal antibodies. The risk factors for leptospirosis were also determined in owned dogs using a standard questionnaire. Of a total of 468 animals investigated for Leptospira, 70 (15.0%) were positive, comprising nine (18.0%) of 50 suspected canine leptospirosis cases, seven (3.4%) of 207 stray dogs and 54 (25.6%) of 211 rodents. The observation that rodents have a statistically (P<0.05, chi2) higher frequency of isolation emphasizes the importance of rodents as reservoirs of leptospirosis in the country. Copenhageni was the predominant serovar found in 100.0% (7/7), 33.3% (2/6) and 68.5% (37/54) of isolates from suspected canine leptospirosis cases, stray dogs and rodents, respectively. Serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola, the two serovars present in the commercial vaccines used locally, were detected in one (1.5%) and zero (0.0%) isolates respectively of the 67 tested. Data provided suggest that the apparent vaccine failure may be a consequence of the fact that the predominant serovar (Copenhageni) detected in sick, apparently healthy dogs and in rodents is not contained in the vaccines used locally to protect dogs against canine leptospirosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19811697/