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MANHATTAN -- Re-emerging or re-recognized? Only your
veterinarian knows for sure.
While foot and mouth and mad cow diseases have dominated news headlines
in recent months, another disease is raising health concern among
owners of companion animals across the country, according to a Kansas
State University veterinarian.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can infect almost any
species of animal -- dogs, horses, cows, pigs, etc. According to Dr.
Kenneth Harkin, an assistant professor of clinical sciences in the
College of Veterinary Medicine, the disease is rarely seen in cats.
Leptospirosis can cause an array of clinical signs. The severity of the
disease can vary widely; however, leptospirosis has the potential to be
severe and even fatal.
The disease is caused by Leptospirosis spp., a spirochete bacteria
related to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease and syphilis. There
are more than 300 pathogenic varieties (serovars), worldwide.
Historically, in the United States, two varieties -- canicola and
icterohaemorrhagiae -- were primarily responsible for the disease in
dogs. The incidence of infection from these two has declined over the
past 30 years, most likely due in large measure to vaccination. The
increase in cases most recently has been due primarily to the varieties
pomona and grippotyphosa. Until recently no vaccine for these varieties
was available.
Leptospira varieties have what are termed maintenance hosts and
incidental hosts. Maintenance hosts are those animal species which
serve as a reservoir for the Leptospira organism, and in which
transmission is very efficient. Incidental hosts include those species
of animals that do not act as reservoirs, but that can be infected by
the organism. The organism replicates in the kidneys of maintenance
hosts and is shed in the urine. In warm damp environments the organism
can survive for months in water or soil. Transmission can occur to the
new host, either maintenance or incidental, by coming in contact with
contaminated water, soil or the carcass of an infected animal.
In dogs, Harkin said there are various symptoms; however, the vast
majority of dogs have a sudden onset of vomiting, which may be
proceeded by muscle or joint pain or stiffness. Pet owners may mistake
this early stage as arthritis and treat the dog with aspirin or another
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
A less frequent symptom seen in dogs is excessive thirst and urination.
Harkin said pet owners are at risk because the dog drinks and urinates
so much that they may do so in the house, exposing the owner to the
disease.
"There are a few other odd-ball things that can be seen with
leptospirosis such as respiratory compromise and pancreaitis," Harkin
said. "But the most common symptoms are vomiting and those associated
with kidney failure."
If caught early, Harkin said treatment is usually effective and the
survival rate is good. However, time is of the essence.
"If you let it go for three or five days, treat it with the wrong
antibiotic or with inappropriate fluid therapy, it can create
irreversible renal failure," Harkin said.
Humans are also at risk for contracting leptospirosis. Symptoms can be
relatively mild and include flu-like symptoms, ocular pain, redness of
the eyes, nasal discharge, fever, or muscle and joint pain; however, it
can progress to more severe kidney and liver failure. Harkin likens
contracting the disease to being "hit by a truck."
"I've actually talked to people who have said they can remember not
just the day they got sick but probably the hour and the minute,"
Harkin said. "It hits you that hard and fast."
According to Harkin, there is a "bit of contention" as to whether the
disease is re-emerging or that veterinarians are recognizing it more.
"I think it might be a combination of both," Harkin said.
"Veterinarians are a little bit more educated about leptospirosis and
making more of an effort to diagnosis it."
Prepared by Keener A. Tippin II. For more information
contact Harkin at 785-532-4251.
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