Leptospira Flashcards
Leptospira is a classic _____
spirochete
Is Leptospira reportable?
YES
What is the hallmark of Leptospira?
Late term abortion
What are the common pathological issues associated with Leptospira?
Dogs, Sea Lions, Cattle and swine- septicemia
True/False: Leptospira can survive extremes in the environment
False
*Leptospira cannot survive extremes such as drying, freezing, heating, ect.
What is the ideal environment for Leptospira to grow?
Moist temperate environments
Does leptospira grow well on blood agar?
No
*Do not grow well on agar at all
What is the reservoir for Leptospira?
Tubules of mammalian kidneys (especially rodents)
*this is where the bacteria lives and multiplies
How is Leptospira transmitted?
Skin contact- abraded skin
Contaminated bodies of water are important sources of infection
Where does Leptospira tend to colonize in the body?
Liver and kidneys
What serovar of Leptospira is the most common in dogs and dogs are the reservoir?
Leptospira Canicola
What serovar of Leptospira is the most common in the US right now?
Grippotyphyosa
What happens with the acute phase of leptospira in puppies?
fever, possible hemorrhage
Is fatal within a few days
No jaundice
What will you see in the icteric form of Leptospira in dogs?
Yellowing of mucous membrane
affects liver and kidney
casts in the urine- meaning damage to kidney
What will you see with the uremic form of Leptospira in Dogs?
mainly affects kidneys
can be rapidly fatal or slow
GI upset
What is the most common manifestation of leptospira in cattle?
abortion
*usually late term
What is the most common serovar of Leptospira in cattle and cattle are the reservoir for?
Leptospira Hardjo
*weak calf syndrome
What Leptospira serovar is the most common in swine and swine are the reservoir for?
Serovar Pomona
*septicemia with icterus and hemorrage in piglets
What species if particularly resistant to Leptospira?
cats
What does Leptospira cause in sows?
abortion and infertility
What does Leptospira cause in horses?
equine recurrent uveitis (aka moon blindness)
*most common manifestation in horses
In Humans, fatal liver and renal disease has been assocaited with which serovar of Leptospira?
Icterohemorrhagiae
Vaccines are ____ specific for Leptospira
serovar
What is the best sample to collect for Leptospira diagnosis?
Urine
*lives in kidneys
(or a kidney if doing necropsy)
