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This is especially common when antibiotics are given before the test is done. In some cases, dogs that are truly infected may give a negative result on the DNA-PCR test ( false negative). Dogs that have been sick for a long time or have only mild signs of illness may be difficult to diagnose by DNA-PCR due to the small numbers of bacteria present. The test is most useful in the early stages of moderate to severe disease, when large numbers of bacteria are present. Leptospira are easily killed by antibiotics, and even small doses can make it difficult to detect infection using DNA-PCR. Most importantly, the DNA-PCR test must be done before the dog is given antibiotics. The DNA-PCR is an excellent test, but it has limitations.

The test is faster and often less expensive than the MAT. Urine is often the preferred sample because of the large numbers of bacteria that are usually present.

The DNA-PCR test is a rapid test that detects the DNA of Leptospira in whole blood or urine. What is the DNA-PCR test for leptospirosis? Infection can be diagnosed with either test, but each has weaknesses, and in some situations both tests may be needed to reach a diagnosis. There are several tests for diagnosing leptospirosis, but the two most common ones are the DNA-PCR test and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). What definitive tests are available to diagnose leptospirosis?

Urinalysis: dilute urine, the presence of protein, and evidence of inflammation (all of which signal kidney damage).

Serum biochemistry: high liver and/or kidney values (indicating damage to the liver and/or kidney), and abnormal values for sodium, chloride, phosphorous, potassium (indicating damage to the kidney and unbalanced metabolism, indicating serious illness).

CBC: increased numbers of white blood cells (indicating infection and tissue damage), decreased numbers of platelets (indicating infection and severe disease), and sometimes, decreased numbers of red blood cells (due to bleeding).

The most common abnormalities found on routine testing in dogs with leptospirosis include: (See handouts “Complete Blood Count”, “Serum Biochemistry”, and “Urinalysis” for further information on these tests.) Routine tests include: complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile, and urinalysis. If routine testing suggests a dog has leptospirosis, then additional definitive testing will likely be recommended to confirm the diagnosis. Routine blood tests cannot give a definitive diagnosis of leptospirosis, but they can provide valuable clues and should be considered the starting point of any investigation. In comparison, dogs with mild infections may show little or no signs of illness and the disease may go undetected.Ĭan leptospirosis be diagnosed with routine blood tests? Illness typically develops quickly, sometimes in just a few days, and can be rapidly fatal. Dogs may develop jaundice, which means the lining of the mouth and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. Severely infected dogs show signs of lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and increased thirst and urination. Dogs that have recovered and yet still carry Leptospira in their tissues are called carriers. This low-grade ongoing infection leads to long-term shedding of small numbers of bacteria in the urine.

In many of these dogs, even those that appear to be well-recovered, small numbers of bacteria survive in the body, especially in the kidney. "Dogs usually recover from mild infections, although the time for recovery varies."ĭogs usually recover from mild infections, although the time for recovery varies. In severe infections, the damage is irreversible and quickly becomes fatal. However, the damage caused by the bacteria often leads to liver failure or kidney failure, and sometimes both. They concentrate in the liver and kidney, causing extensive damage to these organs.Ībout eight to ten days after infection, the dog's immune system produces an antibody response that quickly clears most of the Leptospira from the body. Leptospira can penetrate the soft lining of the nose, mouth, and eyelid, and can enter the body through open sores and scratches in the skin.Īfter infection, bacteria multiply in the bloodstream and then move into the tissues. Others are infected by contact with water or soil contaminated with infected urine. Most dogs are infected by direct contact with urine from an infected animal. Wild animals, including skunks, raccoons, opossums, rats, wolves, and deer, can spread infection to dogs. Bacteria are passed in the urine of infected animals and can survive in the environment for long periods of time in warm, stagnant water or moist soil. The disease causes serious damage to the kidney and liver, and may be fatal in severe cases. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Leptospira.