狗和人的钩端螺旋体病

钩端螺旋体病非常危险，因为它不仅是宠物们的致命性疾病，还可以传染给人们。钩端螺旋体病是一种可以从宠物传染给人的人畜共患疾病。 

钩端螺旋体病可以感染犬的肝脏和肾脏，同时可以传染给人和其他种类的动物，如啮齿动物、牛、猪、马、浣熊、臭鼬、负鼠等等。

钩端螺旋体病是由细菌Leptospira interrogans感染引起的，有多种菌株，一般在犬身上发现的菌株有四种L. canicola、L. icterohaemorrhagiae、L.gryppotyphosa和L. pomona。

钩端螺旋体病是通过接触被感染动物的体液而传播的，最常见的是尿液。狗通常接触被感染的啮齿动物的尿液所污染的水或土壤时导致感染。

它们也可能通过接触被感染的动物（如牛、猪和马）暴露的生殖分泌物和器官而导致感染。 

在一些地区，钩端螺旋体病是一种常见的疾病。而在另外的地区却很罕见。因此，针对本地区的钩端螺旋体病的形势，兽医应给宠主提供一些建议。

保护狗免受钩端螺旋体病的感染，包括避免接触能传播疾病的受污染的土壤、水和动物组织或分泌物。在可能的情况下，减少啮齿类动物的数量，可有助于降低感染的风险。

如果你饲养了牛、马或者猪，应该让你的狗远离这些动物的任何潜在的被污染的东西。

疫苗可用于犬的钩端螺旋体病。不过，在接种疫苗之前，应该在感染钩端螺旋体病的风险和接种疫苗的风险之间进行衡量。相比许多其他疫苗，该疫苗产生不良反应的机率很高。此外，该疫苗也不能预防所有菌株的钩端螺旋体。有的疫苗可预防两株钩端螺旋体，有的疫苗可预防四株，但没有疫苗预防所有的菌株。因此，接种疫苗并不是100%的有效。

被感染动物的尿液可以感染水体，因此，要避免游泳、涉水和/或从任何可能被污染的水中取水喝。

如果你需要照顾一直被感染的狗，尽可能避免处理狗的尿液和其他体液，如果需要处理类似的事情，一定要戴上手套，处理完之后要彻底的清洗双手。确保宠物接受兽医的治疗，以便正确的清除狗体内的致病菌。

Leptospirosis in Dogs and People

Lorie Huston, DVM

Veterinary Medicine Expert

Leptospirosis is dangerous not only becauseit can be a fatal disease for your pet but also because it can be contagious toyou. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, a disease that can be passed frompets to people.

What Is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a disease that can affectthe liver and/or the kidneys of an infected dog. It is also transmissible topeople as well as several other species of animals, including rodents, cattle,swine, horses, raccoons, skunks, opossums and others.

Leptospirosis is caused by a bacterialorganism known as Leptospira interrogans. There are many different strains ofleptospirosis and there are four strains that are commonly seen in dogs: L.canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. gryppotyphosa and L. pomona.

Leptospirosis is spread through contact withbody fluids from an infected animal, most commonly urine. Dogs are frequentlyinfected when they come into contact with water or soil contaminated with urinefrom an infected rodent.

They may also be exposed through contactwith reproductive secretions and organs from an infected animal, such as a cow,pig or horse.

Protecting Your Dog from Infection withLeptospirosis

In some regions, leptospirosis is afrequently diagnosed disease. In other areas, it is rarely seen. Yourveterinarian should be able to advise you how common leptospirosis is in yourarea.

Protecting your dog against leptospirosisinvolves avoiding exposure to contaminated soil, water and animals tissues orsecretions that can spread the disease. Reducing the rodent population, wherepossible, can be helpful in reducing the risk of exposure.

If you keep cattle, horses or swine on yourproperty, you should keep your dog away from any potentially infected materialsfrom these animals also.

There is a vaccination available for canineleptospirosis. However, before the vaccine is administered, you should weighthe risk of infection with leptospirosis against the risk of giving thevaccine. The vaccine has a higher rate of adverse reactions than many othervaccines. In addition, the vaccine will not protect your dog against allstrains of leptospirosis. There are vaccines that protect against two strainsand other vaccines that protect against four strains but there is not a vaccinethat protects against all possible strains. So, the vaccine is not 100%effective.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family fromLeptospirosis

Bodies of water can be contaminated withurine from infected animals. Avoid swimming, wading and/or drinking from anywater that may be contaminated.

If you need to care for a dog that isinfected:

Avoid handling urine and other body fluids,if possible. If you need to clean accidents for your dog, wear gloves whendoing so and wash your hands thoroughly once finished.

Make sure that your pet receives allmedications provided by your veterinarian so that the infection is properlycleared from his body.