Diagnosis of Canine Leptospirosis

Krystle L Reagan; Jane E Sykes

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.02.008

Diagnosis of Canine Leptospirosis

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2019 Jul;49(4):719-731. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.02.008. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Authors

Krystle L Reagan¹, Jane E Sykes²

Affiliations

¹ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, 1 Shields Ave Davis, CA 95616, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, 1 Shields Ave Davis, CA 95616, USA.

PMID: 30961998
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.02.008

Abstract

Several diagnostic tests are available to aid veterinarians in diagnosis of leptospirosis. Understanding the course of infection is imperative to determining which diagnostic test to order and sample to submit. Diagnostic tests for dogs suspected of having leptospirosis include antibody-based tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Paired acute and convalescent microscopic agglutination test (MAT) are diagnostic for leptospirosis. PCR performed on blood and/or urine can be a valuable tool to aid in diagnosis of leptospirosis. Commercially available rapid point-of-care diagnostics have been validated in dogs and have value early in the course of illness before MAT and PCR results are available.

Keywords: Diagnostics; Dog; Leptospirosis; Zoonotic disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
Dogs
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
Genotype
Leptospira / genetics
Leptospirosis / diagnosis
Leptospirosis / veterinary*