Acute Leptospirosis in Its Icteric Form: A Case Study

Abstract

Canine leptospirosis affects domestic and wild canids. In its clinical form the infection is generally associated with Leptospira canicola and Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae that produce a presentation of acute and febrile course, with a high potential to cause interspecies infection and zoonosis, with signs of hepatic and renal alteration in most cases of the disease. In this case study of canine leptospirosis in its icteric form related to Weil’s disease, a dog (French Poodle) with jaundice of hepatic origin, possibly caused by L. icterohaemorrhagiae, was examined by physical and pathological study. It courses a serious disease which progress to multiorgan failure. The symptoms in the animals included: jaundice, fever, severe dehydration and lumbar and abdominal pain, which were related to acute renal and hepatic disease. Cardiovascular disorders present in the dog and the poor response to treatment resulted in the death of the animal. Histopathological diagnosis revealed the presence of the microorganism by Warthin-Starry stain, in addition to cellular hepatic necrosis, hepatic cholestasis and tubulointerstitial nephritis with mononuclear leukocyte infiltration compatible with canine leptospirosis.