Clinicopathologic Features and Outcome Predictors of Leptospira interrogans Australis Serogroup Infection in Dogs: A Retrospective Study of 20 Cases (2001–2004)

Abstract

Background and Hypothesis: We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathologic findings and outcome predictors in dogs with Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup infections.Animals and Methods: The medical records of 159 dogs that had a leptospiral microscopic agglutination test (MAT) performed between 2001 and 2004 were reviewed.Results: Twenty dogs met serologic criteria for either symptomatic (16 dogs) or asymptomatic (4 dogs) infection caused by Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup. Seven of 16 symptomatic dogs died or were euthanized and 9/16 recovered. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was observed in 9/16 dogs. The presence of SIRS did not affect prognosis (P 5 .357). C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (Hpt) concentrations were altered in all symptomatic dogs, but results did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors (P 5 .08 and P 5 .055, respectively). Conversely, the CRP to Hpt ratio (CRP/Hpt) was significantly increased in nonsurvivors. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed in 7/16 dogs. DIC did not significantly affect outcome (P 5 .126). Multiple organ involvement was present with renal failure in 16/16, liver damage in 12/16, cardiac damage in 11/16, and muscular damage in 8/16 dogs.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Among the evaluated clinicopathologic biomarkers, serum albumin, cardiac troponin I, CRP/Hpt, urinary albumin, and urinary total protein to creatinine ratio were found to predict outcome and warrant evaluation in larger prospective studies.

Increasing Incidence of Canine Leptospirosis in Switzerland

“…Clinical manifestations of canine leptospirosis are very similar to the human disease, including acute renal and hepatic failure, hemostatic disturbances, and an increase in pulmonary involvement over the last few years, closely resembling the severe pulmonary form of leptospirosis (SPFL) described in humans [23,31,41]. Severity of disease and organ involvement may vary, and current data do not support an association with the inciting serovar, although exact serovar identification based on culture and strain isolation have not been performed in these studies that were only based on serology results [36].…”

LeptospiraSeroprevalence in Domestic Dogs and Cats on the Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts

“…It has been suggested that dogs may be an alternative maintenance host for the serovar Bratislava [ 23 ]. A seropositive reaction to the serogroup Australis has been associated with severe clinical disease in dogs [ 24 – 26 ].…”

Immun?-Mediated Myocarditis Associated with Leptospirosis in 6 Years Old Labrador Retriever

“…Developing vasculitis can be the cause of mild ascites and hydrothorax, peripheral edema. Rarely ECG changes admitted in dogs (Mastrorilli et al, 2007), what can be explained by intracardial-vasculitis or inflammation.…”