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Study on leptospirosis prevalence in dogs and humans
Project
Project code: BfR-BIOS-08-1322-270
Contract period: 01.05.2007
- 31.12.2007
Purpose of research: Basic research
Besides domestic pigs, wild boars, rats and mice, dogs may play an important role as Leptospira reservoir and infection source for human beings. In co-operation with the Small Animal Hospital of the Free University Berlin and the Robert Koch Institute Berlin, this study is focussed on examination of dogs with and without clinical symptoms and their contact persons (owners and hospital personnel) for Leptospira antibodies by micro agglutination test (MAT). Clinical samples such as urine, blood and organs are subjected for PCR examination. Results shall contribute to the risk assessment on human leptospirosis. Out of 230 examined dogs 67 (29.1%) revealed Leptospira-positive in MAT. The most com-mon detected serovars were Canicola und Copenhageni (probably vaccine antibodies) as well as Grippotyphosa, Pomona and Bratislava. DNA of leptospires was only detected by PCR in a few organ samples. In contrast to dogs, all human serum samples were negative for Leptospira antibodies suggesting that the risk of Leptospira infection of man trough dogs is rather low.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Special animal species