Leptospirosis

What is leptospirosis and Signs of disease in dogs may Who should I contact, if I what causes it? include fever, vomiting, abdominal suspect leptospirosis? Leptospirosis (LEP-toe-sp-ROW-sis) pain, diarrhea, weakness, refusal to In Animals – is caused by spiral shaped bacteria eat, depression, stiffness and severe Contact your veterinarian. that can damage to the liver, muscle pain. Some infected animals In Humans – kidneys and other organs of animals may show no signs of illness. Kidney Contact your physician. and humans. The disease occurs damage can also occur. Young How can I protect my animal worldwide. Cases usually occur animals are usually more severely during the summer and fall. Large affected than older animals. from leptospirosis? outbreaks have occurred after floods. Avoid contact with contaminated Can I get leptospirosis? water or soil environments or infected What animals get Yes. Humans can become infected wildlife, especially rodents. Do not leptospirosis? with leptospirosis in ways similar to allow animals to drink from or enter Leptospirosis can affect many wild animals (direct contact, ingestion, contaminated bodies of water. and domestic animals, including or inhalation of contaminated water Leptospirosis vaccines are available marine mammals. The disease can or soil). Humans can also be exposed for pigs, cattle and dogs. These affect cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, through direct contact with the urine vaccines help to prevent disease horses, and dogs but is rare in cats. of infected animals. severity but may not completely Disease may range from mild to prevent infection. How can my animal get severe. Signs include flu-like illness leptospirosis? (fever, body aches, headache), How can I protect myself Leptospirosis is spread through the weakness, vomiting, mental confusion, from leptospirosis? urine of infected animals, which gets jaundice (orange/yellow skin color), Prevent and control infection into water or soil and can survive there and stiff neck. Severe cases can lead to in animals. Mice and rats can be for weeks to months. Animals become damage of the liver, kidney or central reservoirs of the disease so rodent infected when they come into direct nervous system (brain, spinal cord). control is important. Do not handle contact with this contaminated water urine, blood or tissues from infected or soil. The bacteria enter through animals. If you have contact with cuts in the skin or through mucous infected animals, wear protective membranes (eyes, nose or mouth). clothing, especially gloves. Always Animals can also become infected wash your hands after touching by drinking contaminated water. animals or anything that may have The bacteria can also be inhaled been contaminated with animal urine. (aerosol). For More Information How does leptospirosis CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Leptospirosis affect my animal? at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ Disease in cattle, sheep, goats DiseaseInfo/default.htm and swine may include a fever CDC website. Leptospirosis at http://www. and reproductive problems (e.g., Leptospira cdc.gov/leptospirosis/ abortions). In horses, the eye is most are spiral shaped bacteria, commonly affected. The eyelids that damage the liver, may be reddened, the horse will kidneys and other organs be sensitive to light and may blink frequently or clouding of the eye may Photo: Electron micrograph of Leptospira. be seen.

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