NATURALLY ACQUIRED LEPTOSPIROSIS IN 36 DOGS - SEROLOGICAL AND CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES

Case records of 36 dogs with confirmed leptospirosis diagnosed at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine from 1980 to 1995 were r eviewed retrospectively, and clinical, serological and pathological fi ndings were recorded to characterise the epidemiology of this disease in upstate New York. Titres were directed predominantly against serova rs grippotyphosa and/or pomona in 31 of 34 dogs. Convalescent titres w ere measured for 53 per cent of dogs. The most common clinical present ation was acute renal failure. Increased liver enzyme activity was doc umented in 22 of 36 dogs. It is clear from this study that Leptospira pomona and grippotyphosa are important pathogens capable of causing se vere renal and hepatic injury in dogs.