RESUMO
Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Rodents play an important role as maintenance hosts, but dogs can be signifi cant reservoirs for human infection in tropical areas as well as the source of disease outbreaks. Manifestations of disease in dogs vary from asymptomatic carriers to severe clinical signs and death. This study compared leptospiral exposure in dogs suspected to have leptospirosis and presented at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), dogs from a Control Center of Zoonoses (CCZ) and dogs from a neighborhood with a high prevalence of human leptospirosis. Also, clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and environmental risk factors associated with the infection were investigated at a population level and in a case-by-case approach.Materials, Methods & Results: Between May 2007 and February 2009, 253 dogs from Porto Alegre, Brazil, were enrolled in the study. Three populations were evaluated including dogs from and endemic area to human leptospirosis, dogs from a CCZ and dogs presented to a VTH. All dogs owners from the endemic area and from the VTH answered a questionnaire including dogs information such as breed, age, vaccination status, environment, contact with other domestic animals, presence of rodents in the household, clinical signs, medications and if owners had leptospirosis diagnosed in the pr
Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Rodents play an important role as maintenance hosts, but dogs can be signifi cant reservoirs for human infection in tropical areas as well as the source of disease outbreaks. Manifestations of disease in dogs vary from asymptomatic carriers to severe clinical signs and death. This study compared leptospiral exposure in dogs suspected to have leptospirosis and presented at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), dogs from a Control Center of Zoonoses (CCZ) and dogs from a neighborhood with a high prevalence of human leptospirosis. Also, clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and environmental risk factors associated with the infection were investigated at a population level and in a case-by-case approach.Materials, Methods & Results: Between May 2007 and February 2009, 253 dogs from Porto Alegre, Brazil, were enrolled in the study. Three populations were evaluated including dogs from and endemic area to human leptospirosis, dogs from a CCZ and dogs presented to a VTH. All dogs owners from the endemic area and from the VTH answered a questionnaire including dogs information such as breed, age, vaccination status, environment, contact with other domestic animals, presence of rodents in the household, clinical signs, medications and if owners had leptospirosis diagnosed in the pr
RESUMO
Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Rodents play an important role as maintenance hosts, but dogs can be signifi cant reservoirs for human infection in tropical areas as well as the source of disease outbreaks. Manifestations of disease in dogs vary from asymptomatic carriers to severe clinical signs and death. This study compared leptospiral exposure in dogs suspected to have leptospirosis and presented at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), dogs from a Control Center of Zoonoses (CCZ) and dogs from a neighborhood with a high prevalence of human leptospirosis. Also, clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and environmental risk factors associated with the infection were investigated at a population level and in a case-by-case approach.Materials, Methods & Results: Between May 2007 and February 2009, 253 dogs from Porto Alegre, Brazil, were enrolled in the study. Three populations were evaluated including dogs from and endemic area to human leptospirosis, dogs from a CCZ and dogs presented to a VTH. All dogs owners from the endemic area and from the VTH answered a questionnaire including dogs information such as breed, age, vaccination status, environment, contact with other domestic animals, presence of rodents in the household, clinical signs, medications and if owners had leptospirosis diagnosed in the pr
Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Rodents play an important role as maintenance hosts, but dogs can be signifi cant reservoirs for human infection in tropical areas as well as the source of disease outbreaks. Manifestations of disease in dogs vary from asymptomatic carriers to severe clinical signs and death. This study compared leptospiral exposure in dogs suspected to have leptospirosis and presented at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), dogs from a Control Center of Zoonoses (CCZ) and dogs from a neighborhood with a high prevalence of human leptospirosis. Also, clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and environmental risk factors associated with the infection were investigated at a population level and in a case-by-case approach.Materials, Methods & Results: Between May 2007 and February 2009, 253 dogs from Porto Alegre, Brazil, were enrolled in the study. Three populations were evaluated including dogs from and endemic area to human leptospirosis, dogs from a CCZ and dogs presented to a VTH. All dogs owners from the endemic area and from the VTH answered a questionnaire including dogs information such as breed, age, vaccination status, environment, contact with other domestic animals, presence of rodents in the household, clinical signs, medications and if owners had leptospirosis diagnosed in the pr
RESUMO
Background: : : Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by pathogenic strains of Leptospira, which may affect human beings and a wide range of both domestic and wild animals. The disease in dogs is still a challenge for clinicians, since definitive diagnosis may be reached only few days after overt clinical signs. Besides that, dogs with leptospiruria have zoonotic risk, making development of rapid screening tests crucial for early diagnosis of disease. C-reactive protein is a positive acute phase protein, a nd in the dog a strong and fast response is expected after any tissue injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum and urinary C-reactive protein as potential early indicators of leptospirosis in dogs, and its association with clinical serum biochemistry, complete blood count (CBC) and clinical outcome. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 62 dogs with risk factors and/or clinical signs of leptospirosis were prospectively obtained and included in this study. Definitive diagnosis was based on serology, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) against 13 serovars, and on a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in blood or urine, using the primers sets G1/G2 and B64I/B64II, which amplify DNA of pathogenic leptospires. Clinical serum biochemistry included creatinine, urea, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase and albumin.
RESUMO
Background: : : Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by pathogenic strains of Leptospira, which may affect human beings and a wide range of both domestic and wild animals. The disease in dogs is still a challenge for clinicians, since definitive diagnosis may be reached only few days after overt clinical signs. Besides that, dogs with leptospiruria have zoonotic risk, making development of rapid screening tests crucial for early diagnosis of disease. C-reactive protein is a positive acute phase protein, a nd in the dog a strong and fast response is expected after any tissue injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum and urinary C-reactive protein as potential early indicators of leptospirosis in dogs, and its association with clinical serum biochemistry, complete blood count (CBC) and clinical outcome. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 62 dogs with risk factors and/or clinical signs of leptospirosis were prospectively obtained and included in this study. Definitive diagnosis was based on serology, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) against 13 serovars, and on a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in blood or urine, using the primers sets G1/G2 and B64I/B64II, which amplify DNA of pathogenic leptospires. Clinical serum biochemistry included creatinine, urea, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase and albumin.