Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and other vermin. It is transmitted though contact with infected soil or water.
What are the signs of leptospirosis in pets?
The clinical signs of leptospirosis vary and are nonspecific. Sometimes pets do not have any symptoms. Common clinical signs reported in dogs include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and depression, stiffness, severe muscle pain, or inability to have puppies. Generally younger animals are more seriously affected than older animals. SOURCE: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The soil or water is contaminated with the waste products of an infected animal. People contract the disease by either ingesting contaminated food or water or by broken skin and mucous membrane (eyes, nose, sinuses, mouth) contact with the contaminated water or soil.
The clinical signs of leptospirosis vary and are nonspecific. Sometimes pets do not have any symptoms. Common clinical signs reported in dogs include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and depression, stiffness, severe muscle pain, or inability to have puppies. Generally younger animals are more seriously affected than older animals. SOURCE: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What are leptospirosis symptoms and signs?
Leptospirosis symptoms begin from two to 25 days after initial direct exposure to the urine or tissue of an infected animal. This can even occur via contaminated soil or water. Veterinarians, pet shop owners, sewage workers, and farm employees are at particularly high risk. People participating in outdoor sporting activities like canoeing, rafting, hiking, and camping can also come into contact with contaminated water or soil. The illness typically progresses through two phases:
- The first phase of nonspecific flu-like symptoms includes headaches, muscle aches, eye pain with bright lights, followed by chills and fever. Watering and redness of the eyes occurs and symptoms seem to improve by the fifth to ninth day.
- The second phase begins after a few days of feeling well. The initial symptoms recur with fever and aching with stiffness of the neck. Some patients develop serious inflammation of the nerves to the eyes, brain, spinal column (meningitis), or other nerves. Right upper area abdominal pain may occur. Less common symptoms relate to disease of the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart. Leptospirosis associated with liver and kidney disease is called Weil's syndrome and is characterized by yellowing of the eyes (jaundice). Patients with Weil's syndrome can also develop kidney disease and have more serious involvement of the organs affected.
How is leptospirosis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of leptospirosis is made by culture of the bacterial organism Leptospira from infected blood, spinal fluid, or urine. However, many doctors must rely upon rising Leptospira antibody levels in the blood in order to make the diagnosis, as the technique required to perform the culturing is delicate and difficult.
OPINION OF THE BLOGGER:
Leptospirosis can be deadly which the time of when the Typhoon Ondoy many places where flooded and because rats are everywhere in that area, the urine of the rats with the combination of the dirty water many people got sick and eventually die.
- We should wash our knee to feet after we go to the dirty water or use boots which can help in cover our foot in the water.
- Avoid contact with surfaces and water sources that may be contaminated with rat urine
- Keep your home and its surroundings clean and free of garbage
- Avoid leaving food where rats or rodents could get to it. Keep food in covered containers
- Prevent access to rats by erecting rodent-proof fences and screens and ensure possible household entry places are blocked off
- Farmers should ensure that animal feeds are stored in rat-proof containers
- Wear protective clothing, shoes and gloves to avoid coming into contact with contaminated surfaces, water source or food.
- Seek medical attention if you suspect you have any symptoms of Leptospirosis.
NOTE: PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS NOT TO BE SHOWN THOSE YOUNG ONES WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF AN ADULT. EFFECTS OF THE LEPTOSPIROSIS
