Leptospirosis Flashcards

1
Q

What do leptospira look like?

A

Gram negative, aerobic bacteria
* slender, motile, flexous and helically coiled

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2
Q

What are some of the characteristics of leptospira?

A
  • Possesses an outer sheath, the outer layer of the spirochaete cell
  • multilayered membrane that surrounds the periplasmic flagella
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3
Q

How many million human cases are there per year?

in the world

A

0.5

50 in the UK

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4
Q

What is leptospira biflexa?

A

Non-pathogenic but can contaminate surfaces

this means its hard to get out

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5
Q

Why is it to hard to culture leptospira?

A
  • Slow-Growing, other bugs will outcompete it
  • important that the sample is sterile
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6
Q

How do you culture leptospira?

A

Culture at 30 degrees, aerobically for 8 weeks

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7
Q

What is the main pathogenesis of leptospira?

How does it enter the body

A

gains entry via mucus membranes
once inside the body- > vascular damage and haemorrhage

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8
Q

What do you use to culture leptospira?

A
  • Korthof broth
  • Stuart broth
  • Fletcher semisolid medium
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9
Q

What is the main test used to diagnose leptospira?

A

microagglutination test

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10
Q

Where does leptospira antibodies persist?

A
  • Renal tubules
  • Eyes
  • Uterus
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11
Q

What samples may you take for diagnose?

A
  • Midstream urine
  • Liver tissue
  • Kidney tissue
  • Foetal tissue
  • Blood
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12
Q

What animals are considered reservoirs of leptospirosis?

A

can be harboured in the kidneys of virtually all mammalian species

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13
Q

What species are the largest risk of infection for human beings

A

Rodents- they can shed leptospirosis throughout their life without clinical manifestations

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14
Q

How is leptospirosis transmissed to humans?

A

Infection may be acquired by direct or indirect contact- tissues or secretions, water with animal urine

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15
Q

How does leptospira enter the body

A

via a cut or damaged skin but can also pass across damaged or intact mucus membranes

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16
Q

Where in the world is leptospirosis most common?

A

tropical and subtropical areas with high rainfall
anywhere where humans come into contact with infected urine

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17
Q

What treatment is the most effective in early stages of infection

Humans

A

penicillin or doxycycline

18
Q

What are the signs of acute haemorragic disease in dogs?

A

high fever, vomiting, prostration (lying down) and early death

19
Q

What are the clinical signs of less acute leptospirosis in dogs

A

intense icterus, depression, fever, haemorrhages with blood in urine

20
Q

What is uraemic leptospirosis associated with in dogs?

A

associated with extensive kidney damage

21
Q

What are the clinical signs of leptospirosis in pigs?

A
  • Fever
  • Mastitis
  • Infertility
  • abortion and stillbirths
  • fever, anorexia, jaundice
22
Q

What are the clinical signs of leptospirosis in cattle?

A
  • Milk drop syndrome
  • abortion and neonatal mortality (abortion storms)
  • Infertility
  • jaundice, fever, haemoglobinuria
23
Q

When is natural immunity established?

A

in a herd after the initial infection phase
all new animals that enter the herd are susceptible

24
Q

What are the symptoms of leptospirosis in horses

A

Recurrent iridocyclitis (moon blindness- cant see well at night, poor peripheral vision, based on light intensities )
* Abortion
* Fever, anorexia, depression and icterus

25
Q

What does leptospirosis in sheep look like?

A
  • mainly sub-clinical
  • depression, dyspnoea, haemoglobinuria
  • high mortality in lambs
26
Q

What is the vaccination for cattle?

A

Vaccination in cattle recommended at 5 months of age with annual
boosters

27
Q

What is the vaccination for pigs?

A

– Vaccination in pigs recommended for sows prior to farrowing

28
Q

What is the vaccination method for dogs?

A

– Vaccination in dogs recommended at eight weeks of age with annual
boosters

29
Q

What is leptospira interrogans?

A

Pathogenic bacteria

30
Q

Name 4 ways leptospira can cause damage once inside the body

A
  1. Damages the vascular endothelium resulting in haemorrhage
  2. Produces haemolysins/ lipids proteins that cause vascular damage
  3. Produces cytotoxic proteins
  4. Disseminated intravascular coagulation
31
Q

When does antibody production begin?

A

a few days after the onset of leptospiraemia
a maternal antibody also develops however it is quite short lived

32
Q

What do leptospira produce?

A
  • Haemoxygenase
  • Haemolysin
  • Cytotoxic Protein
33
Q

What is the difference between bacteraemia and septicaemia?

A
  • Bacteraemia- bacteria in the blood
  • Septiceamia- bacteria actively replicating in the blood
34
Q

Name 5 ways you may be able to diagnose leptospira

A
  1. Clinical signs
  2. Antibodies in blood
  3. Culturing organisms
  4. Fluorescent antibody test
  5. PCR
35
Q

What antibiotics would you use to control leptospira in animals?

A
  • Doxycycline
  • Streptomycin
  • Penicillin
36
Q

What do the aborted foetuses often look like?

A

Icteric, jaundiced yellow membranes

37
Q

When are leptospirosis vaccinations recommended in cattle?

A

5 months of age with annual boosters

38
Q

When are vaccinations in pigs recommended?

A

Prior to farrowing

39
Q

When are vaccinations in dogs recommended?

A

eight weeks of age with annual boosters

40
Q

How may you control leptospirosis in animals?

A
  • Education
  • Rapid diagnosis
  • Removal of reservoirs
  • Closed herds
  • Biosecurity