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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2024; 38(5); 2729-2738; doi: 10.1111/jvim.17184

Acute leptospirosis in horses: A retrospective study of 11 cases (2015-2023).

Abstract: Reports of leptospirosis in horses are limited. Objective: To describe the clinical and diagnostic findings of acute systemic leptospirosis in horses. Methods: Eleven client-owned horses presented to an equine hospital because of acute onset of disease between 2015 and 2023. Methods: Retrospective case series. Horses diagnosed with leptospirosis by 1 or more of urine PCR, serologic microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and histopathology. Results: Common clinical signs included lethargy (10), anorexia (10), fever (9), tachypnea (9), abnormal lung sounds (9), and epistaxis (6). Acute kidney injury was present in all cases. Evidence of pulmonary hemorrhage and liver disease was found in 8 (73%) and 6 (55%) horses, respectively. In 6 (55%) horses, kidneys, lungs, and liver were affected. Urine quantitative polymerase chain reaction for detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. was positive in 6 (55%) cases. On serology Leptospira interrogans serovar Australis, Autumnalis, and Bratislava accounted for 86% of all titers ≥1 : 800. Overall case fatality rate was 4/11 (36%). Main findings on necropsy were tubular necrosis, interstitial nephritis, hemorrhage in the alveoli, pulmonary edema, periportal hepatitis and necrosis, cholestasis, and cholangitis. Conclusions: Leptospirosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with evidence of acute systemic inflammation and acute renal injury, epistaxis, or hepatic disease. For increased likelihood of identifying positive cases, both MAT serology and urine PCR should be performed.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-28 PubMed ID: 39194176PubMed Central: PMC11423456DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17184Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores the signs, diagnostic methods, and clinical findings of leptospirosis in horses, based on the analysis of 11 cases. Through various diagnostic tests, the study discovered common symptoms and potential indicators of acute leptospirosis, identified the Leptospira strains most frequently involved, and highlighted the importance of using both serology and urine PCR tests for diagnosis.

Purpose and Methodology

  • The research aimed to document and analyze clinical and diagnostic presentations of acute systemic leptospirosis in horses. The basis for this was the limited availability of studies evaluating this disease in horses.
  • The researchers conducted a retrospective case study involving 11 client-owned horses, which were admitted to an equine hospital between 2015 and 2023 due to acute-onset illness.
  • These horses were diagnosed with leptospirosis through one or more methods: urine PCR, serologic microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and histopathology.

Clinical Findings

  • The most frequent symptoms of the disease included lethargy, anorexia, fever, tachypnea (rapid breathing), abnormal lung sounds, and epistaxis (nosebleed).
  • All 11 horses exhibited acute kidney injury, signifying renal damage is a consistent feature of leptospirosis in horses.
  • Pulmonary hemorrhage and liver disease were also prevalent, detected in 73% and 55% of the horses, respectively. More than half of the horses showed affliction in the kidneys, lungs, and liver simultaneously.

Diagnostic Findings

  • The urine PCR test was successful in identifying pathogenic Leptospira spp, an organism responsible for leptospirosis, in 6 (55%) cases.
  • The serology detected Leptospira interrogans serovar Australis, Autumnalis, and Bratislava as the most prevalent strains, responsible for 86% of all titers with a count greater than or equal to 1:800.

Case Fatality and Necropsy Findings

  • The study observed a case fatality rate of 36%, with 4 out of 11 horses succumbing to the disease.
  • Post-mortem examinations revealed tubular necrosis, interstitial nephritis (kidney inflammation), alveoli hemorrhage (lung bleeding), pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), periportal hepatitis (liver inflammation) and necrosis, cholestasis (bile flow disruption), and cholangitis (bile duct inflammation).

Conclusions

  • The findings suggest that leptospirosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for horses exhibiting acute systemic inflammation, acute kidney injury, epistaxis, or liver disease.
  • The research indicates that both MAT serology and urine PCR should be performed for a higher likelihood of identifying positive leptospirosis cases.

Cite This Article

APA
Ramsay L, Eberhardt C, Schoster A. (2024). Acute leptospirosis in horses: A retrospective study of 11 cases (2015-2023). J Vet Intern Med, 38(5), 2729-2738. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17184

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 38
Issue: 5
Pages: 2729-2738

Researcher Affiliations

Ramsay, Lynette
  • Ramsay Equine Medical, Odense, Denmark.
  • Vetsuisse Faculty, Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Eberhardt, Christina
  • Vetsuisse Faculty, Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Schoster, Angelika
  • Vetsuisse Faculty, Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Clinic, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary
  • Leptospirosis / diagnosis
  • Leptospirosis / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Male
  • Female
  • Leptospira / isolation & purification
  • Acute Disease

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Motta D, Pedrosa J, Lilenbaum W. Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira DNA in Cervicovaginal Mucus of Mares With Reproductive Disorders in a Brazilian Herd. Reprod Domest Anim 2025 Sep;60(9):e70125.
    doi: 10.1111/rda.70125pubmed: 40988486google scholar: lookup
  2. Żmudzki J, Ostrowska M, Arent Z, Frant M, Kochanowski M, Nowak A, Zębek S, Kalinowski D, Podgórska K. Seroprevalence of equine leptospirosis in Poland (2019-2023). Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):523-532.
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