Leptospirosis 2022: A Potentially Fatal Dog Disease! UPDATED OCT 2022

Leptospirosis

 

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease, which can affect many different species, including dogs and humans. The bacteria responsible are spread in the urine of infected animals, with the types of leptospirosis affecting dogs being transmitted mainly by rats. Dogs may become infected through exposure to water, food, soil or bedding which is contaminated with rat urine, or from direct contact with rats (e.g. a rat bite of ingesting a rat). Infected dogs may develop problems such as liver disease, kidney disease and bleeding disorders.

Initial signs of leptospirosis include lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea but the bacteria can travel to the kidneys and/or the liver and cause significant damage to these organs. The damage can be so extreme that is often fatal.

In host-adapted species (e.g. rats), infection with Leptospira bacteria can persist for a long time, however it generally isn’t associated with signs of disease. When other ‘incidental’ species such as dogs or humans are infected, leptospirosis can result in severe and potentially fatal disease.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means that is can potentially be spread from animals to humans. Humans can get leptospirosis through direct contact with urine from infected animals or through water, soil or food contaminated with their urine.

The best way to protect your dog (and yourself) is to avoid contact with places where rat urine may collect. Avoid any rat contact and don’t let your dog drink from puddles or stagnant water.

In addition, if you live in an area where leptospirosis is known to affect dogs, or if your dog has any contact with rats, it is strongly recommended to vaccinate your dog against leptospirosis. An initial course of two vaccines given 2-4 weeks apart provides immunity for 12 months, with an annual booster vaccine required thereafter for ongoing immunity.

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim 2022

 

Mittagong Vet Hospital is now routinely vaccinating against Leptospirosis (which requires a 4-week Booster) as part of the routine vaccination schedules for dogs. If we receive updates of any confirmed cases in the Southern Highlands we will immediately issue a new health alert.

CURRENT CASES CONFIRMED: Confirmed cases of Leptospirosis in dogs throughout NSW include the South Coast, Illawarra, Sydney, Newcastle and Central Tablelands.  

UPDATE:  Please note that as of the end of June 2022, a fatal case of leptospirosis occurred in the ACT-Queenbayan region.  This is a preventable disease with vaccination - please don't delay in having your dog vaccinated.


Sydney University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital have released a list of confirmed Leptospirosis cases, some of which were fatal to dogs
; - In the St Georges Basin, Sanctuary Point and Old Erowal Bay areas, as well as Figtree in the Illawarra. - In South/Western Sydney; Horsely Park, Ingleside, Lurnea. - In Sydney; Crows Nest, Elanora Heights, North Shore, Glebe, Ultimo, Balmain, Annandale, Ashfield, Marrickville, Petersham, Newtown, Redfern, Paddington, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills. - Recent regional cases have been confirmed in Trunkey Creek (near Bathurst) and in Newcastle.

Please be aware and prepare if you travel to any of these areas with your dog, please do not allow your dog to drink stagnant water, and please ensure your dog is vaccinated against Leptospirosis and monitor for symptoms.

 

UPDATE:
URGENT HEALTH ALERT-Oct 2022

Cases of potentially fatal Leptospirosis have been found in dogs in the following areas. 

For, Shoalhaven (16x cases, 5 fatal), Newcastle (5x, 2 fatal)), Southern Highlands (1x),

Wollongong (2),  Inner West Sydney-Marrickville (1 fatal), Eastern Suburbs - Potts Point (1), Northern Beaches - Ingleside(1 fatal), Central Coast -Tuggerah (1) and Canberra - Jerrabomberra - (1 fatal).

 

REDUCE YOUR DOG'S RISK:

If you travel to these areas with pets please consider talking to your vet about Leptospirosis and how to best mitigate risk, including;

1. Your dog’s vaccination status and current health condition

2. Contact with rats and other vermin 

3. Contact with contaminated environments, especially stagnant water and aquatic recreation.

4. Contact with other infected dogs/humans (Leptospirosis is zoonotic)

5. Reconsider travel to these areas for your dog.

 

CONFIRMED HOTSPOTS:

1.Shoalhaven: 16x confirmed cases with 5x fatalities in dogs.

Old Erowal Bay, Bayswood, Jervis Bay, Sanctuary Point, Sussex Inlet, Tomerong, Wollamia, Vincentia.  Of these cases only 2x were vaccinated and made a full recovery. 

2.Newcastle: 5x cases confirmed. 2x were fatal, none of the dogs were vaccinated. 

In the Southern Highlands: 1x confirmed case detected in the Burradoo earlier this year, Although the dog made a full recovery they were unvaccinated.

 

* Please note that these cases are based on dogs that presented ill at vet hospitals and tested. Case numbers may therefore be higher in localities than indicated.

 

A NEW STRAIN FOUND IN NSW

Current approved Leptospirosis vaccination in Australia covers the Copenhageni strain. Of the recent cases an alarming number include the Australis strain, particularly in the Shoalhaven. The Australian Veterinary Board (AVB) are currently seeking approval for a limited permit of Leptospira serovar Australis vaccine, to be used in dogs living in and frequenting the Shoalhaven LGA as the current vaccine (Protech C2i) only covers for Copenhageni strain in Australia.

 

URGENT HEALTH ALERT

Cases of potentially fatal Leptospirosis have been found in dogs in the following areas. 

For, Shoalhaven (16x cases, 5 fatal), Newcastle (5x, 2 fatal)), Southern Highlands (1x),

Wollongong (2),  Inner West Sydney-Marrickville (1 fatal), Eastern Suburbs - Potts Point (1), Northern Beaches - Ingleside(1 fatal), Central Coast -Tuggerah (1) and Canberra - Jerrabomberra - (1 fatal).

 

REDUCE YOUR DOG'S RISK:

If you travel to these areas with pets please consider talking to your vet about Leptospirosis and how to best mitigate risk, including;

1. Your dog’s vaccination status and current health condition

2. Contact with rats and other vermin 

3. Contact with contaminated environments, especially stagnant water and aquatic recreation.

4. Contact with other infected dogs/humans (Leptospirosis is zoonotic)

5. Reconsider travel to these areas for your dog.

 

CONFIRMED HOTSPOTS:

1.Shoalhaven: 16x confirmed cases with 5x fatalities in dogs.

Old Erowal Bay, Bayswood, Jervis Bay, Sanctuary Point, Sussex Inlet, Tomerong, Wollamia, Vincentia.  Of these cases only 2x were vaccinated and made a full recovery. 

 

2.Newcastle: 5x cases confirmed. 2x were fatal, none of the dogs were vaccinated. 

 

In the Southern Highlands: 1x confirmed case detected in the Burradoo earlier this year, Although the dog made a full recovery they were unvaccinated.

 

* Please note that these cases are based on dogs that presented ill at vet hospitals and tested. Case numbers may therefore be higher in localities than indicated.

 

_________

 

A NEW STRAIN FOUND IN NSW

Current approved Leptospirosis vaccination in Australia covers the Copenhageni strain. Of the recent cases an alarming number include the Australis strain, particularly in the Shoalhaven. The Australian Veterinary Board (AVB) are currently seeking approval for a limited permit of Leptospira serovar Australis vaccine, to be used in dogs living in and frequenting the Shoalhaven LGA as the current vaccine (Protech C2i) only covers for Copenhageni strain in Australia.

 

NATIONAL VACCINE SHORTAGES

There is currently a national shortage of Leptospirosis vaccine (Protech C2i) which covers the Copenhageni strain. We will notify you immediately once both vaccines become available in the near future, and  thank you for your patience. Until then risk mitigation is the best way to protect your dog. Unfortunately, continuing wet weather hastens the spread of Leptospirosis.  

 

Please talk to your vet for more information and advice, or read through our blog on Leptospirosis for 

1. Ways to protect against infection, 

2. Signs of infection in your dog, and 

3. What to do if you think your dog is infected. 

There is currently a national shortage of Leptospirosis vaccine (Protech C2i) which covers the Copenhageni strain. We will notify you immediately once both vaccines become available in the near future, and  thank you for your patience. Until then risk mitigation is the best way to protect your dog. Unfortunately, continuing wet weather hastens the spread of Leptospirosis.  

 

Please talk to your vet for more information and advice, or read through our blog on Leptospirosis for 

1. Ways to protect against infection, 

2. Signs of infection in your dog, and 

3. What to do if you think your dog is infected. 




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