 |
Question:
|
"I heard that a dog in my New York neighborhood recently died of leptospirosis. What is lepto? Should I be worried?"
|
| Answer: |
A few years ago, in 2000, Mugsy, a Pit Bull mix from Brooklyn, died from leptospirosis, or lepto, a serious, potentially fatal disease often transmitted by rats. At the time, we noted that one death does not an epidemic make. Since then, however, it's been discovered that lepto has killed at least one other Brooklyn dog and sickened scores of others elsewhere.
While we worry about lepto in our dogs, city health officials are more concerned about the disease spreading to people. Human cases of lepto are rare: in New York City, only two cases have been reported in recent years (one in 1989 and one in 1996). Still, the bacteria that cause the disease are widespread. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that half the rat population nationwide carries the lepto bacteria. Apart from rats, lepto can be carried by raccoons, skunks, squirrels, opossums, livestock, and other animals. The disease is transmitted by contact with urine or the carcass of an infected animal or by contact with water or moist soil contaminated by infected urine or carcasses.
In both people and dogs, signs of lepto can include fever, lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, drinking and urinating more than usual, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin, gums, or whites of the eyes). People with lepto may also suffer from headache, chills, muscle aches, anemia, and sometimes a rash. If it's not treated, lepto in people can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress, and, in rare cases, death.
Suggested precautions against lepto:
~ Don’t let your dog chase rats or roam in areas infested by rats;
~ Keep your family and your dog away from stagnant pools of water;
~ Have your dog vaccinated against lepto, unless it has had a reaction to the vaccine in the past. The lepto vaccine does not offer absolute protection, but it lessens the chances of infection;
~ Remember that you can get lepto from an infected dog: wear gloves when cleaning up urine from a sick dog;
~ Consult a physician if you become ill after contact with an animal that may have lepto;
~ Report blocked drains or other areas of stagnant water to your city; and
~ Report rat infestations to your city's pest control division.
What exactly is leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis, or lepto, is a serious disease caused by spiral-shaped bacteria in the Leptospira family. People as well as dogs and other animals can be infected. Five major strains are known to infect dogs, and the Leptospira family is estimated to include about 200 strains and substrains worldwide.
How is it transmitted?
Lepto is transmitted by contact with urine from an infected animal, contact with the carcass of an infected animal, or contact with water contaminated by infected urine or animal carcasses. Rats and other rodents, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and opossums are some of the wildlife species that have been known to carry lepto.
Is it a common disease in dogs?
No, it is a rare disease, although in 1997 there was an outbreak on Long Island that affected more than 150 dogs.
Is it a common disease in people?
No. In people, lepto is primarily an occupational disease that affects farmers, veterinarians, sewer workers––anyone who comes in contact with urine from animals, especially rats.
What are the symptoms of lepto in dogs?
The bacteria multiply rapidly about one to two weeks after an animal is exposed, and that’s when signs of illness tend to appear. Lepto targets the kidneys and the liver, so urinary symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms are common. Fever, lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, drinking and urinating more than usual, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin, gums, or whites of the eyes) are some potential signs.
What are the symptoms in humans?
According to New York City's Bureau of Communicable Disease website at www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/cd/cdlept.html: "The symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, anemia, and sometimes rash. People with leptospirosis are usually quite ill and require hospitalization."
How is lepto diagnosed?
A blood sample is checked for antibodies to lepto bacteria. Urine or tissue from kidney or liver biopsies can also be checked for the bacteria.
How is it treated in dogs?
Lepto is treated with a minimum of two weeks of penicillin followed by two weeks of doxycycline. Because the disease often causes kidney failure and liver damage, hospitalization and supportive treatments such as IV fluids are also required. Lepto can be fatal, so prompt, aggressive treatment is needed.
How can I protect my dog against lepto?
The best ways to protect a dog against lepto are the following: prevent exposure to rats and other wildlife; don't let your dog drink from ponds or puddles; and have your dog vaccinated against lepto, unless it has had a reaction to the vaccine in the past.
Is there a new vaccine against lepto?
Yes. In January, one vaccine manufacturer, Fort Dodge, introduced a lepto vaccine that protects against the two newer strains (grippotyphosa and pomona) as well as the two older strains (icterohaemorrhagiae and canicola).
The lepto vaccine does not offer absolute protection, but it lessens the chances of infection. If your dog does get infected, the vaccine will shorten the duration and severity of the illness and make it less likely that your dog will shed the bacteria in his or her urine. The lepto vaccine should be boostered every four to six months for maximum protection.
Why hasn't my dog already received the lepto vaccine?
Some local veterinarians stopped using the lepto portion of the five-in-one distemper vaccine, which is usually boostered once a year, because the two strains of lepto covered by the original vaccine have declined in recent years and because the vaccine caused rare but occasionally serious adverse reactions.
What should I do if I think my dog might have been exposed to lepto?
If your dog is ill and may have been exposed to rats, call your vet immediately. If your dog is not ill but you are concerned, discuss the issue with your vet. He or she may advise doing a blood test, vaccinating your dog against the disease, or giving a preventive course of penicillin and doxycycline.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
