Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals.

Humans become infected through direct

contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment. The bacteria enter the body
through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. Person-toperson transmission is rare.
In the early stages of the disease, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the
eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, haemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhoea, and rash
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. Humans become infected through direct
contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment. The bacteria enter the body
through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. Person-toperson transmission is rare.
In the early stages of the disease, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the
eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, haemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhoea, and rash.
What is leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Leptospira. Leptospirosis occurs
worldwide, but is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Outbreaks can occur following excessive
rainfall or flooding.
How do people get leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans through cuts and abrasions of the skin, or through the mucous
membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth with water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. As animals are
constantly in our environment, there is a particular danger of getting leptospirosis when flooding occurs, such as
following a typhoon or very heavy seasonal rains, because of exposure to contaminated water when wading in
floodwaters.
Leptospirosis can occasionally also be transmitted through the drinking of water or ingestion of food
contaminated with urine of infected animals, often rats.
Human-to-human transmission occurs only very rarely.
Which animals can infect people with leptospirosis?

Virtually all wild and domestic mammals can harbour the bacteria that cause leptospirosis in their kidneys and
genital tracts and act as source of infection to humans and other animals.
Rodents were the first recognized carriers of leptospirosis and are considered the primary source of
infection to human beings.
Cattle, buffaloes, horses, sheep, goat, pigs and dogs are also considered common reservoirs of the bacteria
that causes leptospirosis.

Who is at risk from leptospirosis?

Outbreaks of leptospirosis have been reported following natural disasters such as flooding. The risk of infection
depends on exposure. Some humans have a high risk of exposure because of their occupation, the environment they
live in or their lifestyle.
The main occupational groups at risk include:
farm and agricultural workers
pet shop workers
veterinarians
sewer workers
abattoir workers
meat handlers
military personnel
survivors of natural disasters (e.g., flooding)
people engaging in recreational water sports (swimming, etc)

In some countries, practically the whole population is at risk as a result of high exposure to contaminated water in
daily activities, e.g. working in paddies and sugarcane plantations. The number of males with leptospirosis is often
higher than that of females. This may reflect occupational exposure in male dominated activities.
Although leptospirosis is often considered to be a rural disease, people living in cities may also be at risk, because of
exposure to infected rats.
What are the signs and symptoms of leptospirosis?
The incubation period of leptospirosis is usually 514 days, with a range of 230 days. The symptoms following
infection with leptospira can vary from a mild 'flu'-like illness to a serious and sometimes fatal disease.
Leptospirosis is often difficult to diagnose clinically, as it can appear to be very similar to many other diseases such
as dengue, typhoid and viral hepatitis. Although the disease is a self-limiting and often clinically inapparent illness
in the majority of cases, 5-15% of untreated cases can progress to a more severe and potentially fatal stage.
How do you treat leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics that should be given as early in the course of illness as possible. If you
have symptoms of leptospirosis and have been exposed to water potentially contaminated with urine of infected
animals, consult a doctor. If leptospirosis is suspected, appropriate antibiotics will be prescribed. Treatment is most
effective when started as soon as possible. Clinicians should never wait for the results of laboratory tests before
starting treatment with antibiotics.
How do you prevent leptospirosis?

Risk of infection is minimized by avoiding contact with animal urine, infected animals or a contaminated
environment.
Measures to prevent transmission of leptospirosis include the following:
Wearing protective clothing (boots, gloves, spectacles, aprons, masks).
Covering skin lesions with waterproof dressings.
Preventing access to, or giving adequate warning about water bodies known or suspected to be
contaminated (pools, ponds, rivers). Try to avoid wading or swimming in potentially contaminated water.
Washing or showering after exposure to urine splashes or contaminated soil or water.
Washing and cleaning wounds.
Avoiding or preventing urine splashes and aerosols, avoiding touching ill or dead animals, or assisting
animals in giving birth.
Strictly maintaining hygienic measures during care or handling all animals.
Where feasible, disinfecting contaminated areas (scrubbing floors in stables, butcheries, abattoirs, etc.).
Consuming clean drinking-water.
A disease of public health importance
Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial disease that occurs all over the world.
Rodents and other animals harbour and spread the disease.
Transmission to humans occurs when they come in contact with water, food or
soil that is contaminated with infected animal urine.
Leptospirosis is under-recognized and often mistaken for other diseases.
Leptospirosis causes severe long term health problems including renal
failure, bleeding and inflammation of the heart muscle.
Children are particularly vulnerable to serious forms of the disease.

 5 to 30% of people infected with leptospira die.

Changing environmental trends, including extreme weather patterns
increase the threat of severe epidemics around the world.
Leptospirosis is an infection of bacterial spirochetes, which dogs acquire when subspecies of the Leptospira interrogans penetrate
the skin and spread through the body by way of the bloodstream. Two of of the most commonly seen members of this subspecies
are the L. grippotyphosa and L. Pomona bacteria. Spirochetes are spiral, or corkscrew-shaped bacteria which infiltrate the system
by burrowing into the skin.
Leptospires spread throughout the entire body, reproducing in the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, eyes, and reproductive
system. Soon after initial infection, fever and bacterial infection of the blood develop, but these symptoms soon resolve with the
reactive increase of antibodies, which clear the spirochetes from most of the system. The extent to which this bacteria affects the
organs will depend on your dogs immune system and its ability to eradicate the infection fully. Even then, Leptospira
spirochetes can remain in the kidneys, reproducing there and infecting the urine. Infection of the liver or kidneys can be fatal for
animals if the infection progresses, causing severe damage to these organs. Younger animals with less developed immune systems
are at the highest risk for severe complications.
The Leptospira spirochete bacteria is zoonotic, meaning that it can be transmitted to humans and other animals. Children are most
at risk of acquiring the bacteria from an infected pet.

Symptoms and Types

Sudden fever and illness

Sore muscles, reluctance to move

Stiffness in muscles, legs, stiff gait

Shivering

Weakness

Depression

Lack of appetite

Increased thirst and urination, may be indicative of chronic renal (kidney) failure, progressing to inability to urinate

Rapid dehydration

Vomiting, possibly with blood

Diarrhea - with or without blood in stool

Bloody vaginal discharge

Dark red speckled gums (petechiae)

Yellow skin and/or whites of eyes anemic symptoms

Spontaneous cough

Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, irregular pulse

Runny nose

Swelling of the mucous membrane

Mild swelling of the lymph nodes

Causes
The Leptospira spirochete infection mainly occurs in subtropical, tropical, and wet environments. Leptospira spirochetes are more
prevalent in marshy/muddy areas which have stagnant surface water and are frequented by wildlife. Heavily irrigated pastures are
also common sources of infection. The infection rate for domestic pets has been increasing in the U.S. And Canada, with infections
occurring most commonly in the fall season. Dogs will typically come into contact with the leptospira bacteria in infected water, soil,
or mud, while swimming, passing through, or drinking contaminated water, or from coming into contact with urine from an infected
animal. This last method of contact might take place in the wild. Hunting and sporting dogs, dogs that live near wooded areas, and
dogs that live on or near farms are at an increased risk of acuiring this bacteria. Also at increased risk are dogs that have spent time
in a kennel.

Diagnosis
Because leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, your veterinarian will be especially cautious when handling your pet, and will strongly
advise you to do the same. Protective latex gloves must be worn at all times, and all body fluids will be treated as a biologically
hazardous material. Urine, semen, post-abortion discharge, vomit, and any fluid that leaves the body will need to be handled with
extreme caution.
You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health, including a background history of symptoms, recent activities, and
possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues as to what
stage of infection your dog is experiencing, and which organs are being most affected.
Your veterinarian will order a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, aurinalysis, an electrolyte panel, and a
fluorescent antibody urine test. Urine and blood cultures will also be ordered for examining the prevalence of the bacteria. A
microscopic agglutination test, or titer test, will also be performed to measure the body's immune response to the infection, by
measuring the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream. This will help to definitively identify leptospira spirochetes and the level
of systemic infection.