Investigation of possible leptospiral infection in cats in Scotland

Abstract

Eighty-seven cats from the Glasgow area were investigated to determine the prevalence of leptospiral infection and possible resultant disease. Eight (9.2 per cent) of the cats reacted serologically with the antigens of three serovars. Five of the cats were seropositive to Leptospira hardjo, two to L autumnalis and one cat seroconverted to L icterohaemorrhagiae. A paired serum sample indicated a recent infection in one of the cats. The major clinical sign shown by this cat was ascites. Four of the cats were from rural areas. This appears to be the first report of a serological survey of leptospiral infection in cats in the Glasgow area.

Seroprevalence of Cat Leptospirosis in Belgrade (Serbia)

“…According to data available from other regions, seroprevalence of cat leptospirosis has been investigated in Spain: 14.0% [10], [11], France: 48.0% [12], Greece: 33.3% [13], India: 66.6% [14], Scotland: 9.2% [15], Trinidad (West India): 12.5% [16], Australia: 16.9% [17], Iran -Tehran: 27.0% [18], and Ahvaz region: 4.9% [19], Southern Taiwan: 9.3% [20], Tyrol (Austria): 18.2% [21], and Brazil: Goiania region: 6.96% [22], and Bahia region: 33.3% [23].…”

Cross-Species Surveillance of Leptospira in Domestic and Peri-Domestic Animals in Mahalla City, Gharbeya Governorate, Egypt

“…37 In cats, an isolate showing PFGE profiles comparable with L. biflexa serovar Patoc was collected from one animal whose serum was reactive to many serovars, including L. interrogans serovars Grippotyphosa (1:3,200), Hardjo (1:400), and L. biflexa serovar Patoc (1:200) ( Table 2 ). 38 Detection of this isolate certainly warrants further investigation, because saprophytic leptospires do not normally colonize the kidney. Titers observed against L. biflexa serovars are customarily attributed to shared antigenicity.…”

Unusual clinical presentation of leptospirosis in a cat

“…Cases of leptospiruria have been revealed using PCR [2,6], but very few symptoms have appeared in response to experimental infections (1 • C temperature increase, rare appearance of poluyuro-polydipsia [PU/PD], with no mortality [2,7]). There are only very few described cases of clinical leptospirosis in cats [5,[8][9][10][11][12][13]. The symptoms described were most frequently PU/PD and temperature, sometimes accompanied by jaundice and the mortality rate described was high.…”

“…Still as regards cats, some natural seroconversions have been described [5]. Cases of leptospiruria have been revealed using PCR [2,6], but very few symptoms have appeared in response to experimental infections (1 • C temperature increase, rare appearance of poluyuro-polydipsia [PU/PD], with no mortality [2,7]).…”