Clinicopathologic features and outcome predictors of Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup infection in dogs: a retrospective study of 20 cases (2001-2004).
OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathologic findings and outcome predictors in dogs with Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup infections.


METHODS
The medical records of 159 dogs that had a leptospiral microscopic agglutination test (MAT) performed between 2001 and 2004 were reviewed.


RESULTS
Twenty dogs met serologic criteria for either symptomatic (16 dogs) or asymptomatic (4 dogs) infection caused by Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup. Seven of 16 symptomatic dogs died or were euthanized and 9/16 recovered. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was observed in 9/16 dogs. The presence of SIRS did not affect prognosis (P = .357). C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (Hpt) concentrations were altered in all symptomatic dogs, but results did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors (P = .08 and P = .055, respectively). Conversely, the CRP to Hpt ratio (CRP/Hpt) was significantly increased in nonsurvivors. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed in 7/16 dogs. DIC did not significantly affect outcome (P = .126). Multiple organ involvement was present with renal failure in 16/16, liver damage in 12/16, cardiac damage in 11/16, and muscular damage in 8/16 dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the evaluated clinicopathologic biomarkers, serum albumin, cardiac troponin I, CRP/Hpt, urinary albumin, and urinary total protein to creatinine ratio were found to predict outcome and warrant evaluation in larger prospective studies.
Mastrorilli
Cinzia
C
Veterinary Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum--University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
Dondi
Francesco
F
Agnoli
Chiara
C
Turba
Maria Elena
ME
Vezzali
Enrico
E
Gentilini
Fabio
F
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D041281:Leptospira interrogans serovar australis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents