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Description
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira interrogans. It affects domestic species, wildlife and has zoonotic potential.
Signalment
Exposure to the disease is worldwide, with the predominent serovar varying with location. Serological studies show that exposure is high but clinical disease is low.
Clinical disease
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
Infection with pathogenic Leptospira spp cause a bacteraemia with the following clinical signs
- Pyrexia
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
The disease can then invade a specific organ system resulting in associated clinical signs:
- Opthalmic
Chronic leptospirosis causes recurrent uvietis
- Abortion
- Renal
- Hepatic
Horses with subclinical infections or those in the carrier state are asymptomatic.