Vol. 10, Special Issue 9s (2021)

Author(s):
Dr. M Geetha and Dr. G Selvaraju

Abstract:
Canine leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by the species of the spirochete genus Leptospira. There are more than 250 serovars of Leptospira were identified throughout the world and atleast ten of them including Australis, Autumnalis, Canicola, Grippothyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Saxkoebing and Sejroe are being reported in association of canine leptospirosis throughout the globe. Four dogs of different age group and breeds with the history of pyrexia, anorexia, vomiting and enteritis were reported to the infectious disease unit of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal for therapeutic intervention. Pale pink mucous membrane, hematochezia, pyrexia, tachypnea, shivering, dehydration, oliguria with mild cough were the predominant clinical examination findings in all animals and one had icterus. Anemia (mean - 8.2 + 2.1 g/dl), leucocytosis (25.1 + 4.2 x 10³/ µl) mild thrombocytopaenia (mean - 1.2 + 0.2 x 10³/ µl) were notifiable haemato-biochemical changes noticed in all animals. Extracted template DNA from sera of all dogs were subjected to polymerase chain reaction targeting Lip L 32 gene specific for pathogenic Leptospires detected positive for infection. Doxycycline @ of 10 mg/kg body weight once daily for 21 days along with supportive therapy ended in uneventful recovery of all four dogs.