Citation
Phumoonna, Tongted
(2001)
Epidemiology of Canine Leptospirosis in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the current state of leptospirosis in dogs in
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The usefulness of several laboratory techniques was
also evaluated for the diagnosis of leptospires and determination of leptospirosis
prevalence. One hundred and sixty five serum samples were collected and examined
for serological prevalence of leptospirosis. The dogs surveyed were classified into
stray and pet groups. Pet dog samples were obtained from dogs which were brought
to the University Veterinary Hospital at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UVH-UPM).
Samples from stray dogs were obtained from Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (SPCA), and Paws Animals Welfare Society (PAWS). All serum
samples were screened for leptospiral IgM and IgO antibodies, using an enzymelinked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then, these serum samples were re-examined
for leptospiral antibodies and serovar-specificity by the microscopic agglutination
test (MAT). A serum sample was confirmed to have leptospiral infection if its MAT
titre was 2: 100, or IgM-ELISA titres of 2: 160, or IgO-ELISA titres of more than two
times of negative controls, or any combination of the above. The study showed a high serological prevalence of leptospiral infection, particularly
in the group of stray dogs. Leptospira pomona was found to be the most
predominant serovar both in the pet and stray dogs. In previous surveys in
1 95 5, 1 96 1 , 1 979 and 1 986, the infection due to L. pomona was uncommon whilst L.
icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola were reported to be predominant in dog
populations in Malaysia. The emergence of L. pomona infection in dogs in Malaysia
could be due to the only use of vaccines containing serovars icterohaemorrhagiae
and canicola. Therefore, to prevent leptospiral infection in dogs and reduce the
transmission of this disease from dogs to other animals and humans, serovar pomona
should be included in the vaccines to be used in Malaysia.
The bacterial culture revealed no leptospires in the dogs surveyed. This could
possibly be due to the fastidious nature of the organisms, stage of infection, or level
of antibodies in the circulating blood. However, twenty one unknown isolates were
successfully detected in blood and urine samples of the dogs surveyed by the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and identified by low-stringency PCR technique.
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