Leptospira Flashcards
Leptospira Gram___? Shape?
Gram Negative Classic spirochetes Diverse, many variations/serotypes
Leptospira Motile/Non-motile?
Motile
Leptospira Distribution? Reportable?
Worldwide. REPORTABLE in USA
Leptospira Disease Patterns Hallmark sign
Late-term abortion
Leptospira Disease Patterns Dogs
Septicemia - Hepatic & Renal Disease
Leptospira - Disease Patterns Cattle & Swine
Septicemia in young Abortion in adults
Leptospira - Disease Patterns Horses
Abortion & uveitis (moon blindness)
Leptospira - Disease Patterns California Sea Lions
Acute septicemia
Leptospira - Disease Patterns Humans
Acute febrile disease
How is Leptospira best visualized on microscopy?
Dark-field or phase-contrast microscopy
Leptospira Cell wall description
LPS with feeble endotoxin
Leptospira Stable/Labile in environment? What kills it?
Weak/Labile Killed by drying, freezing, heat, detergents, bile salts, acidic environment
Leptospira Where can it persist in environment?
Moist, temperate environment @neutral or slighly alkaline pH
Leptospira What type of agar does it grow on?
It doesn’t! GOTCHA! No agar! Usually grown in fluid or semi-solid media
Leptospira Oxidase Pos/Neg?
Oxidase positive
Leptospira Catalase Pos/Neg?
Catalase positive
Leptospira Urease & Lipase Pos/Neg?
Some are lipase & urease positive
Leptospira How is advanced identification established?
Serology (PCR still in development
Leptospira Reservoir
Tubule of Mammalian kidneys! Especially rodents! Wild carnivores, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates too
Leptospira Transmission
Urine contamination! **Bodies of water** Fluid/fomite/feed contacts skin/mucous membranes. Milk in acutely infected cows
Leptospira Pathogenesis
Spirochetes enter bloodstream–> Colonize liver and/or kidney (also muscle, eyes, meninges)
Leptospira Clinical Signs/Pathology
>Nonsuppurative meningitis, hemorrhages >L. serovar Pomona in Cattle (intravascular hemolysis) >Autoimmune diseases, Icterus (liver damage & blood destruction) >Acute, subacute, chronic nephritis
Leptospira Dogs Most important serovars
**Canicola** Iceterohemorrhagiae Grippotyphosa
Leptospira- Dogs Acute form -Describe & is it fatal?
Puppies! Fever, hemorrhaging mucus membranes, epistaxis, blood-stained feces Fatal within days