Leptospirose bei Hunden in Süddeutschland

Canine Leptospirosis in Southern Germany In this study, data of 337
dogs with clinically suspected leptospirosis was evaluated. The
dogs were presented to the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine
(Medizinische Kleintierklinik) of the Ludwig Maximilians University
Munich, Germany, between 1990 and 2004. In all dogs, a
microagglutination test used to detect leptospiral antibodies
against eight different Leptospira serovars was performed. The aim
of the first study was to determine the presence of antibodies
against various Leptospira serovars in dogs with clinical
leptospirosis in Southern Germany and to compare serovars in regard
to history, clinical signs, laboratory findings and survival rate.
The purpose of the second study was to identify the Leptospira
serovars predominantly inducing antibodies in dogs in Southern
Germany and to determine which serovars mainly cause disease.
Furthermore, possible predisposition in respect to breed, sex, and
age was investigated. 48 % (162) of 337 dogs had antibodies against
at least one Leptospira serovar. With the exception of antibodies
against the vaccinal serovars copenhageni (70 %) and canicola (38
%), antibodies against grippotyphosa (33 %), bratislava (19 %)
saxkoebing (10 %) and sejroe (8 %) were detected most frequently.
Of the dogs with antibodies, 26 % (42) had the disease
leptospirosis. These dogs most frequently tested positive for
antibodies against grippotyphosa (31 %), followed by antibodies
against saxkoebing (24 %), copenhageni (17 %), canicola (12 %) and
bratislava (7 %). Thus, while antibody titers against vaccinal
serovars were found in many dogs, the disease leptospirosis was
mainly caused by the serovars grippotyphosa and saxkoebing.
Previous studies have suggested that certain serovars are commonly
associated with particular clinical symptoms and laboratory
findings. However, this was not confirmed in the current study. The
ratio of dogs having antibodies against leptospirosis without
clinical leptospirosis to dogs with the disease leptospirosis was
considerably lower in the serovar saxkoebing (1.6:1) than in other
serovars (bratislava 10:1, grippotyphosa 4:1). This may be
indicative of a higher pathogenicity of saxkoebing compared to
other serovars. Presence of antibodies was diagnosed significantly
more often in Bernese Mountain dogs than in other breeds. Also, the
disease leptospirosis was significantly more often in this breed.
Increasingly, nonvaccinal serovars are the cause of the disease
leptospirosis. Leptospirosis vaccines currently available in Europe
only contain copenhageni and canicola strains. Since these vaccines
are not cross-protective against other serovars, they offer no
protection against grippotyphosa and saxkoebing, the serovars most
commonly associated with clinically manifest leptospirosis in
Germany. A recently developed vaccine, licensed in the USA,
contains grippotyphosa and pomona strains, either as a bivalent or
as a quadrivalent product in combination with copenhageni and
canicola. This study suggests that serovars grippotyphosa and
saxkoebing should be added to leptospirosis vaccines available in
Germany.