14/08/2020
Just a friendly reminder. Vaccinations for Leptospirosis are available and are not expensive.
Leptospirosis update 14/08/2020
š¾Attention dog owners! š¾
There has been another confirmed case of Leptospirosis this week in a dog that lives in Balmain. The dog had been in contact with rats and was not vaccinated against Leptospirosis. The dog has been treated at UVTHS this week and fortunately appears to be recovering. Preliminary results show that the previously reported strain (serovar) known as Copenhageni has been the cause in both this dog and another reported dog from Newtown last week, however further testing is required to confirm this in one of the cases. This is the first case of Leptospirosis seen in Balmain. Last year we saw 8 cases between May and November and these dogs lived in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Glebe and Redfern.
Importantly, we have not seen any infected dogs which have been vaccinated against Leptospirosis. Therefore, please vaccinate your dog against Leptospirosis if you live within a 5km radius of Surry Hills, in Balmain or its immediately surrounding suburbs or if your dog is in contact with rats. A vaccine has to be given twice 2-4 weeks apart and yearly thereafter to ensure protection.
What is Leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that can cause acute kidney failure and liver disease in dogs. Dogs become infected by contact with urine from rats or indirectly via contaminated water or soil. They can also become infected by hunting and eating rats. Prevention of leptospirosis is achieved by limiting contact to sources of infection and vaccination. Until recently clinical leptospirosis has only rarely been reported in Sydney. Therefore, historically, dogs have not been routinely vaccinated against this disease. Clinical signs can initially be very vague such as lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea. Importantly, leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease which means that humans can become infected as well, for example through contact with rat urine or urine of infected dogs, through skin wounds or through the mucus membranes (eg in the mouth).