Retrospective Immunohistochemical Detection of Leptospira in Dogs with Renal Pathology

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate renal tissue from dogs with renal pathology for evidence of leptospira. The pathology database at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, which included accessions from Tufts Foster Hospital for Small Animals as well as a number of private small animal practices, was searched for dogs that had renal pathology of any type recorded as one of the diagnoses from January 1999 through July 2002. Sections of renal tissue from 265 cases underwent immunohistochemistry staining for leptospira. For each case, an attempt was made to obtain the following data: signalment, state of origin, BUN, serum creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and bilirubin concentration, titers for leptospirosis, and vaccination status. Of the 265 cases, 48 (18.1%) were positive for the presence of leptospiral antigen. There was no correlation between gender, breed, state of origin, histopathologic diagnosis, presence of azotemia, or current vaccination for leptospirosis and a positive test.