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Equine veterinary journal2019; 51(3); 287-292; doi: 10.1111/evj.13069

Leptospirosis: An important infectious disease in North American horses.

Abstract: North American horses are commonly exposed to Leptospira organisms. Leptospira Bratislava is the most common infecting serovar but this serovar has not been confirmed to cause clinical disease in North American horses. Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki is responsible for most of the clinical diseases (leptospirosis) in North American horses. Leptospirosis is most commonly associated with diseases of the placenta and fetus, the kidneys and the eyes in horses. In-utero infections in pregnant mares may result in abortion, neonatal illness or birth of an antibody positive healthy foal. Acute renal failure in younger horses and recurrent uveitis in adult horses are other well documented clinical syndromes of leptospirosis. Abortions, neonatal disease and acute renal failure are caused by a subacute infection, while horses with Leptospira associated recurrent uveitis develop ocular disease months or years after the initial Leptospira infection. Diagnosis of Leptospirosis is made by a combination of antigen or antibody testing methods. Mares that abort following Leptospira infection have no additional clinical signs at the time of abortion but may shed the offending Leptospira spp. in the urine for several weeks. Antibiotic treatments are sometimes used in hopes of decreasing Leptospira shedding in infected horses or prophylactically in exposed pregnant mares but documentation of efficacy is lacking. Horses with Leptospira - associated acute renal failure can be successfully treated with antibiotics and supportive care. Recurrent uveitis is commonly associated with leptospirosis in North American horses and although horses may have chronic intraocular infection triggering an immune disease, systemic antimicrobial therapy has not been effective in eliminating the organism from the eye. An equine approved Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki vaccine is now available in North America.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-01-28 PubMed ID: 30629756DOI: 10.1111/evj.13069Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 leptospirosis, a common infectious disease in North American horses caused by Leptospira organisms. The main consequences of this disease are related to the placenta and fetus, kidneys, and eyes in horses.

Leptospira Serovars Involved

  • The paper elaborates that Leptospira Bratislava is the most frequent serovar found in horses, but it has not been confirmed to trigger clinical disease in North American horses.
  • Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki is identified as the primary cause of clinical diseases, such as leptospirosis, in North American horses.

Common Symptoms and Diseases

  • The diseases linked to leptospirosis most often affect the placenta and the fetus, the kidneys, and the eyes in horses.
  • In-utero infections can lead to abortion, illness in newborn horses, or the birth of a healthy, antibody-positive foal.
  • Acute renal failure in younger horses and recurrent uveitis in adult horses are two highly documented clinical symptoms of leptospirosis.
  • Abortions, newborn disease, and acute renal failure are often the result of a subacute Leptospira infection, while recurrent uveitis can occur months or years following the initial infection.

Diagnosis and Treatment

  • Leptospirosis is diagnosed through a combination of antigen or antibody testing methods.
  • Mares that have abortions after a Leptospira infection may not exhibit additional clinical signs at the time of abortion but may excrete the Leptospira bacteria in their urine for several weeks.
  • In some cases, antibiotics are administered to reduce Leptospira shedding in infected horses or as a preventive measure in exposed pregnant mares, although the effectiveness of this measure is not well documented.
  • Successful treatment of horses with Leptospira-associated acute renal failure involves the use of antibiotics and supportive care.
  • Despite systemic antimicrobial therapy, horses with chronic intraocular infection triggering an immune disease, known as recurrent uveitis, commonly associated with leptospirosis are not able to completely eliminate the organism from the eye.

Vaccination

  • A vaccine for Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki, approved for use in horses, is now available in North America, offering a preventive measure against leptospirosis in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Divers TJ, Chang YF, Irby NL, Smith JL, Carter CN. (2019). Leptospirosis: An important infectious disease in North American horses. Equine Vet J, 51(3), 287-292. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13069

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 3
Pages: 287-292

Researcher Affiliations

Divers, T J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Chang, Y-F
  • Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Irby, N L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Smith, J L
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Carter, C N
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Leptospirosis / epidemiology
  • Leptospirosis / microbiology
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary
  • North America / epidemiology

Citations

This article has been cited 27 times.
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