Clinical and pathologic comparison of acute leptospirosis in dogs caused by two strains of Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a method for inducing acute leptospirosis in dogs.


METHODS
31 nine-week-old female Beagles.


METHODS
Beagles were randomly assigned to 2 inoculation groups or a control group. Dogs were inoculated on 3 successive days by conjunctival instillation of 5 x 10(7) cells of Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa strain 82 (12 dogs) or strain RM 52 (14 dogs). Control dogs (n = 5) were similarly inoculated with sterile leptospiral culture media. Clinical signs, clinicopathologic variables, anti-leptospiral antibody titers, and evidence of leptospires in tissues and body fluids were evaluated. Dogs were euthanatized and necropsied on days 7, 14, 22, or 28 after inoculation or as required because of severe illness.


RESULTS
Clinical signs in infected dogs included conjunctivitis, lethargy, diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, and icterus. Consistent clinicopathologic alterations included azotemia, hyperphosphatemia, increased anion gap, hyperbilirubinemia, and an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. Leptospires were cultured from the kidneys (11/12), urine (6/9), aqueous humor (9/12), blood (12/12), and liver (12/12) of dogs inoculated with strain 82. Only 3 of 14 dogs became infected after inoculation with strain RM 52. Histopathologic lesions in infected dogs included interstitial nephritis, renal tubular degeneration and necrosis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and hepatic edema and perivasculitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Conjunctival exposure to L kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa strain 82 resulted in acute leptospirosis in all inoculated dogs, but only 3 of 14 dogs inoculated with strain RM 52 became infected. This method of infection by serovar grippotyphosa can be used to study the pathogenesis and prevention of leptospirosis in dogs.
Greenlee
Justin J
JJ
Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Bolin
Carole A
CA
Alt
David P
DP
Cheville
Norman F
NF
Andreasen
Claire B
CB
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007919:Leptospira; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013045:Species Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial