Leptospira and Treponema

Question 1

What is the difference between spiral bacteria and spirochetes?

Answer 1

Spirochetes have a flagellum within their peri-plasmic space

Question 2

What is the function of the flagellum within the peri-plasmic space?

Answer 2

It allows the bacteria to move through very viscous material

Question 3

Who are the reservoirs for leptospirosis?

Answer 3

Nearly any animal can be a reservoir

*****rats are the most common

Question 4

What is used to classify leptospira?

Answer 4

serovars and serogroups (based upon their carbohydrate antigen)
Species (defined by their DNA homology)

Question 5

T/F: Elevated BUN/Creat and calcium on chemistry and elevated neutrophil/monocyte count on bloodwork would make you suspicious of a lepto infection

Answer 5

TRUE (if clinical signs also match)

Lepto is present in the renal tubules of the kidney so elevated renal values are expected. High neutrophils/monocytes are characteristic of a bacterial infection

Question 6

How do most humans and dogs contract lepto?

Answer 6

From contaminated water!

Absorbed through moist skin, wounds, or mucus membranes

Question 7

How is lepto spread from carriers?

Answer 7

In the urine!

Can run off, and survive in moist soil, water, and mud

Question 8

What dz processes does pathogenic lepto cause in dogs and humans?

Answer 8

Hepatic failure
Pulmonic hemorrhage (FATAL)

Question 9

T/F: Leptospirosis is biphasic

Answer 9

TRUE

Question 10

T/F: Leptospirurea comes before Leptospiremia

Answer 10

FALSE - blood infection prior to lepto getting into the urine

Question 11

T/F: If you have a dog in the first week of leptospira infection - a urine sample would be best for diagnosis

Answer 11

FALSE - blood is best in the first 2 weeks of infection

Question 12

What clinical signs might you seen in a dog with pathogenic leptospirosis?

Answer 12

Acute fever, Jaundice, nephritis, abortion in pregnant animals, Pulmonary hemorrhage,

Question 13

How long do incidental lepto hosts shed the bacteria in their urine?

Answer 13

For a short time compared to maintenance hosts who shed lepto in their urine long term

Question 14

If a dog has been vaccinated for lepto, can that interfere with dx testing?

Answer 14

YES.

Difficult to distinguish between prior vaccination and a previously recovered animal

Question 15

What tests should be run to maximize the diagnostic capabilities when ruling out leptospirosis?

Answer 15

FA and or PCR on blood and urine

Plus MAT on serum **Gold standard test

This will ensure you are testing samples from each stage of the dz

Question 16

Cattle are often _____ hosts of leptospira

Answer 16

Maintenance hosts

Question 17

The distribution of titers for various serovars of leptospira is due to:

A - Infection with multiple serovars
B - due to cross reactivity of antigens which is very common in initial stages of infection

Answer 17

B

Question 18

Phenomenon of presence of titers to multiple non-infecting serovars is known as…?

Answer 18

Paradoxical reactions

Question 19

What antimicrobials are used to treat animals (dogs) with acute phase leptospirosis?

Answer 19

Penicillins: Ampicillin and amoxicillin

Question 20

What antimicrobials are used to treat animals (dogs) with the carrier phase of leptospirosis?

Answer 20

Doxycycline

post exposure prophylaxis state

Question 21

T/F: Lepto vaccines provide a long lasting immunity

Answer 21

FALSE

Question 22

Leptospira are considered to be gram negative or gram positive?

Answer 22

GRAM NEGATIVE

Question 23

What serovar of lepto is most commonly found in cattle? What does it cause?

Answer 23

Leptospira borapetersennii

*failure to reproduce

Question 24

What sample should be collected to test a cow for lepto? What is important about sample collection and packaging?

Answer 24

Urine sample for FA and PCR

Need to collect urine MID-STREAM

Sample needs to be overnighted to lab

Question 25

How do you treat cows with lepto?

Answer 25

Use long acting tetracycline during their drying cycle and administer vaccine to prevent re-infection

Question 26

What illness might you see in a horse infected with lepto?

Answer 26

Systemic illness/abortion

**Equine recurrent Uveitis

Question 27

T/F: Pigs are infected with the Pomona and bratisalva lepto servors most commonly

Answer 27

True

causes systemic illness

Question 28

What is the name of the multi systemic hemorrhage disease caused by leptospirosis in humans?

Answer 28

Weil’s disease

Question 29

How is treponema contracted?

Answer 29

Sexually transmitted

Question 30

What does treponema cause in humans? In dairy cattle?

Answer 30

Humans - syphilis

Dairy cattle - “hairy heel warts”/ Papillomatous digital dermatitis

Question 31

T/F: Formaldehyde foot baths are an acceptable form of treatment for hairy heel warts in cattle

Answer 31

FALSE!!!!

Question 32

What does Hairy Heel Warts cause in dairy cattle, and what bacteria causes it?

Answer 32

Caused by Treponema spps - proliferative dermatitis that is very painful and causes lameness

Question 33

What bacteria is responsible for rabbit syphilis?

Answer 33

Treponema paraluis caniculi

Question 34

What clinical signs will you seen in a rabbit with syphilis?

Answer 34

Perineal and facial ulcers and erosions

Typically self limiting