Leptospira

Question 1

Leptospira is a classic _____

Answer 1

spirochete

Question 2

Is Leptospira reportable?

Answer 2

YES

Question 3

What is the hallmark of Leptospira?

Answer 3

Late term abortion

Question 4

What are the common pathological issues associated with Leptospira?

Answer 4

Dogs, Sea Lions, Cattle and swine- septicemia

Question 5

True/False: Leptospira can survive extremes in the environment

Answer 5

False

*Leptospira cannot survive extremes such as drying, freezing, heating, ect.

Question 6

What is the ideal environment for Leptospira to grow?

Answer 6

Moist temperate environments

Question 7

Does leptospira grow well on blood agar?

Answer 7

No

*Do not grow well on agar at all

Question 8

What is the reservoir for Leptospira?

Answer 8

Tubules of mammalian kidneys (especially rodents)

*this is where the bacteria lives and multiplies

Question 9

How is Leptospira transmitted?

Answer 9

Skin contact- abraded skin

Contaminated bodies of water are important sources of infection

Question 10

Where does Leptospira tend to colonize in the body?

Answer 10

Liver and kidneys

Question 11

What serovar of Leptospira is the most common in dogs and dogs are the reservoir?

Answer 11

Leptospira Canicola

Question 12

What serovar of Leptospira is the most common in the US right now?

Answer 12

Grippotyphyosa

Question 13

What happens with the acute phase of leptospira in puppies?

Answer 13

fever, possible hemorrhage

Is fatal within a few days

No jaundice

Question 14

What will you see in the icteric form of Leptospira in dogs?

Answer 14

Yellowing of mucous membrane

affects liver and kidney

casts in the urine- meaning damage to kidney

Question 15

What will you see with the uremic form of Leptospira in Dogs?

Answer 15

mainly affects kidneys

can be rapidly fatal or slow

GI upset

Question 16

What is the most common manifestation of leptospira in cattle?

Answer 16

abortion

*usually late term

Question 17

What is the most common serovar of Leptospira in cattle and cattle are the reservoir for?

Answer 17

Leptospira Hardjo

*weak calf syndrome

Question 18

What Leptospira serovar is the most common in swine and swine are the reservoir for?

Answer 18

Serovar Pomona

*septicemia with icterus and hemorrage in piglets

Question 19

What species if particularly resistant to Leptospira?

Answer 19

cats

Question 20

What does Leptospira cause in sows?

Answer 20

abortion and infertility

Question 21

What does Leptospira cause in horses?

Answer 21

equine recurrent uveitis (aka moon blindness)

*most common manifestation in horses

Question 22

In Humans, fatal liver and renal disease has been assocaited with which serovar of Leptospira?

Answer 22

Icterohemorrhagiae

Question 23

Vaccines are ____ specific for Leptospira

Answer 23

serovar

Question 24

What is the best sample to collect for Leptospira diagnosis?

Answer 24

Urine

*lives in kidneys

(or a kidney if doing necropsy)

Question 25

What is the most common diagnostic tool for Leptospira?

Answer 25

Serology

Question 26

What is the best treatment and control for Leptospira?

Answer 26

Antibiots are effective- penicillin

Vaccination prevents clinical disease but does not prevent infection