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Article
Experimental Canine Leptospirosis Caused by Leptospira Interrogans Servars Pomona and Bratislava
American Journal of Veterinary Research
  • Justin Jay Greenlee, Iowa State University
  • David P. Alt, United States Department of Agriculture
  • Carole Ann Bolin, United States Department of Agriculture
  • Richard L. Zuerner, United States Department of Agriculture
  • Claire B. Andreasen, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
10-1-2005
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate gross, histopathologic, and serum biochemical findings caused by Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona and bratislava inoculated in dogs. Animals—Twenty-seven 8-week-old female Beagles. Procedure—Dogs were randomly assigned to challenge or control groups. Challenge groups were conjunctivally inoculated on 3 successive days with 5 X 107 L interrogans serovar pomona (n = 12) or serovar bratislava (11). Clinical signs were recorded throughout the experiment, and clinical pathology assays, bacteriologic culture, and necropsies (6 or 7 dogs necropsied at each time point) were done on postinoculation day (PID) 7, 10, 14, and 20. Results—Infection could not be confirmed in any serovar bratislava–inoculated dog, and control dogs remained healthy throughout the experiment. Positive culture and fluorescent antibody test results were confirmed in 11 of 12 serovar pomona–inoculated dogs. Fever and lethargy starting at PID 7 were the most common clinical signs in serovar pomona–infected dogs. On day 10, gross lesions included multifocal renal and pulmonary hemorrhage and perirenal edema. Serovar pomona–inoculated dogs had histopathologic lesions including hepatitis, interstitial nephritis, and pneumonia at PID 7, 10, 14, and 20. Increases in BUN, anion gap, and bilirubin concentration occurred on PID 10, 14, and 20. Platelet counts in dogs with positive results of bacteriologic culture were decreased from baseline values on PID 10, 12, and 14. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance— Conjunctival inoculation with L interrogans serovar pomona resulted in a high rate of infection with concomitant hemorrhagic and inflammatory lesions of the kidneys, liver, and lungs.
Comments

This article is from American Journal Veterinary Research 66 (2005): 1816.

Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Justin Jay Greenlee, David P. Alt, Carole Ann Bolin, Richard L. Zuerner, et al.. "Experimental Canine Leptospirosis Caused by Leptospira Interrogans Servars Pomona and Bratislava" American Journal of Veterinary Research Vol. 66 Iss. 10 (2005) p. 1816 - 1822
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/claire_andreasen/21/