Leptospira

Question 1

Identify the bacteria based on these morphological characteristics:

Right-handed flexible helical rods w/ 18+ coils per cell, hooked at 1 or both ends, motile w/ 2 subterminal periplastic flagella

Answer 1

Leptospira

Question 2

What family does Leptospira belong to?

Answer 2

Leptospiraceae

Question 3

What Class does Leptospira belong to?

Answer 3

Spirochaetia

Question 4

Is Leptospira aerobic or anaerobic?

Answer 4

Aerobic

Question 5

What energy sources does Leptospira use?

Answer 5

Long-chain fatty acids and alcohols

Question 6

What is the basic taxonomic unit in Leptospira?

Answer 6

serovar (serotype)

Question 7

pathogenic/parasitic serovars type of Leptospira

Answer 7

Leptospira interrogan

Question 8

free-living saprophytic serovars type of Leptospira

Answer 8

Leptospira biflexa

Question 9

How many serovars exist for L. interrogans?

Answer 9

218

Question 10

How many serovars exist for L. biflexa?

Answer 10

at least 60

Question 11

What is the primary source of Leptospira infection?

Answer 11

Urine from infected/carrier animals

Question 12

What are the routes of transmission for Leptospira?

Answer 12

direct or indirect contact
* nasal
* oral
* conjunctival mucous membranes
* abraded skin

Question 13

Can Leptospira survive stomach acid, Yes or No?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

What environmental condition supports Leptospiral survival?

Answer 14

Alkaline water for several days

Question 15

Primary virulence mechanism of Leptospira? (3)

Answer 15

• damage to vascular endothelium
• cytotoxic proteins
• hemolysins

Question 16

Pathogenesis route of Leptospira (5)

Answer 16

1. epithelial penetration
2. hematogenous spread
3. localization in kidneys/liver
4. multiplication
5. carrier state/nephrosis/death

Question 17

What contributes to tissue damage in Leptospira infections?

Answer 17

Host’s immune response and damage to endothelial lining

Question 18

What kind of immune response is most significant in Leptospira?

Answer 18

Humoral immunity

Question 19

What disease caused by Leptospira is characterized by the following?

fever
anemia
subserosal & submucosal hemorrhages
conjunctivitis
icterus
meningitis
agalactia

Answer 19

Leptospirosis

Question 20

Which serovar is primary in Canine Leptospirosis?

Answer 20

Canicola

Question 21

Which serovar is less frequent in Canine Leptospirosis?

Answer 21

Icterohemorrhagiae

Question 22

What are the other serovars in Canine Leptospirosis? (5)

Answer 22

1.) grippotyphosa
2.) autumnalis
3.) australis
4.) pomona
5.) bratislava

Question 23

How long do dogs and rats shed Leptospires?

Answer 23

Dogs: 2–6 months
Rats: longer periods

Question 24

What are the 4 clinical forms of Leptospirosis in dogs?

Answer 24

1. Hemorrhagic (icterohemorrhagiae)
2. Icteric
3. Uremic/Subacute (canicola)
4. Inapparent

Question 25

What tests are used for Canine Leptospirosis diagnosis?

Answer 25

1. Dark field microscopy of urine 2. Microscopic agglutination test 3. Isolation/cultivation 4. Guinea pig/hamster inoculation 5. Histopathology (kidney) 6. Fluorescent antibody staining

Question 26

These clinical signs of Leptospirosis are observed in what animal? fever diarrhea anemia icterus hemoglobinuria abortions

Answer 26

Cattle

Question 27

Leptospirosis in Cattle

Answer 27

Bovine Leptospirosis

Question 28

What is the principal serovar in Bovine Leptospirosis?

Answer 28

Pomona Hardjo (some areas)

Question 29

These clinical signs of Leptospirosis are observed in what animal? unthriftiness abortion fever icterus anemia occasionally metritis, meningoencephalitis

Answer 29

Pigs

Question 30

Leptospirosis in Swine

Answer 30

Porcine Leptospirosis

Question 31

Principal serovar in Porcine Leptospirosis?

Answer 31

pomona also canicola, grippotyphosa, icterohemorrhagiae, bratislava

Question 32

These clinical signs of Leptospirosis are observed in what animal? mild fever depression icterus occasional abortion, uveitis (moon blindness)

Answer 32

Horse

Question 33

Leptospirosis in Horses

Answer 33

Equine Leptospirosis

Question 34

What serovar is mostly involved in Equine Leptospirosis?

Answer 34

Pomona

Question 35

What type of immunity is most relevant in leptospirosis?

Answer 35

Humoral immunity

Question 36

Are bacterins against Leptospirosis available for all species, Yes or No?

Answer 36

No

Question 37

Bacterins against Leptospirosis are available for which species?

Answer 37

1.) Dogs - canicola, icterohemorrhagiae 2.) Cattle - pomona, hardjo, grippotyphosa, canicola, icterohemorrhagiae 3.) Swine - pomona, bratislava

Question 38

Bacterins against Leptospirosis is not available for which species?

Answer 38

Horses

Question 39

What are effective treatments for Leptospirosis? (5)

Answer 39

1.) ampicillin 2.) penicillin G 3.) streptomycin 4.) tetracycline 5.) doxycycline

Question 40

When is antibiotic treatment ineffective?

Answer 40

If renal damage is extensive

Question 41

Control measures for Leptospirosis

Answer 41

1. Fluid therapy (dogs) 2. Rat control 3. Avoid contaminated water (fence off) 4. Screen new stock 5. Take advantage of Leptospira’s susceptibility to drying & heat

Question 42

How do Humans acquire Leptospirosis?

Answer 42

1.) infected animals 2.) contaminated water 3.) contact w/ infected urine

Question 43

What are other names for Human Leptospirosis?

Answer 43

Well’s disease Fort Bragg fever Swineherd’s disease

Question 44

What are human symptoms?

Answer 44

Similar to animals: fever, jaundice, nephritis

Question 45

When is treatment for human leptospirosis most effective?

Answer 45

w/i 4 days of symptom onset