Diagnosis and treatment of canine leptospirosis due to serovar Bataviae—a case report

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 1829 - 1833
• Main Authors: Sharun, Khan, Anjana, Satheesh, Dhivahar, M., Ambily, V. R., Pillai, Usha Narayana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.12.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agglutination; Anorexia; Benzylpenicillin; Bilirubin; Biochemical analysis; Body weight; Case Report; Case reports; Creatinine; Dogs; Doxycycline; Hematology; Hemorrhage; Immunization; Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Medical diagnosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Pathology; Polymerase chain reaction; Proton pump inhibitors; Serology; Thrombocytopenia; Vaccination; Vomiting; Leptospirosis; Bataviae; Microscopic agglutination test; Emerging serovars
• ISSN: 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-019-02949-4

Infection of Leptospira interrogans var. Bataviae in a properly vaccinated German shepherd dog and its successful clinical management are described. The dog was presented with a history of anorexia, vomiting, oliguria, melena, lethargy, and weakness. The animal had a proper history of yearly vaccination with the multicomponent vaccine. Hematology revealed leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia, granulocytosis, and anemia. Serum biochemical analysis showed elevated BUN, creatinine, ALP, total bilirubin, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, and lower A:G ratio. Based upon the clinical signs and blood-biochemical changes, the case was tentatively diagnosed as leptospirosis. Confirmation was done by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) along with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The dog was treated with benzylpenicillin at a dose rate of 40,000 units/kg body weight intravenously twice a day along with proton pump inhibitors, fluids, electrolytes, and vitamin supplements for 5 days. The animal made a considerable improvement in condition after 5 days of treatment. To prevent persistent renal shedding of Leptospira organism, the animal was treated with doxycycline orally for 14 days. The animal made a complete recovery after 3 weeks of care. This case reports the emergence of a new Leptospira serovar in dogs of Kerala characterized by hepatic, renal, and hemorrhagic clinical manifestations. This case points towards the need for a seroprevalence study of leptospirosis in canines followed by incorporation of emerging serovars into the vaccination regime.