Zoonosis

Leptospirosis Is One Of The Most Common Zoonotic Diseases In The World Today¹

In the United States, outbreaks of leptospirosis are increasingly being reported among those participating in water activities,^2,3,4 and sporadic cases are often underdiagnosed.¹

Leptospirosis may be caused by infection with one of the many serovars of the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. The primary reservoirs for most Leptospira serovars are the renal tubules of wild life and domestic animals. These pathogenic leptospires are typically shed in the urine of infected animals for more than a month after infection.¹

Most human infections result from exposure to Leptospira spp. via cuts, scrapes, or by passage across the conjunctiva and mucous membranes. This usually occurs through contact with contaminated water sources or the urine or tissue of infected animals.¹

Veterinarians are often considered the first line of defense in regard to recognizing and controlling zoonotic diseases. Yet, most steps taken by veterinarians are primarily intended to reduce the risk of nosocomial transmission of veterinary pathogens between patient animals, not necessarily to protect themselves, their staff, or their clients from zoonotic transmission of infectious agents.⁵ Granted, relatively few human illnesses linked to reported animal infections are recorded each year. However, occupational transmission to veterinarians, animal workers, and farmers is well documented.⁶

Key Learnings For Veterinarians And Their Teams

Veterinarians and their staff need to maintain increased vigilance in their practice of good hygiene(gloves, hand washing) and environmental disinfection to limit the potential for exposure within the clinical setting from infected urine. Pet owners should be advised to avoid feeding or approaching wildlife, store pet food so wildlife cannot get to it, and clean and disinfect water bowls regularly.⁷

Of course, the best protection against canine leptospirosis infection is regular immunization of your clients’ pets against all 4 available Leptospira serovars.^8,9