啮齿动物通常被视为无症状的钩端螺旋体感染的宿主,因为啮齿动物的临床疾病很少被描述。本报告包括3年期间在单个动物园内多个地点的巴塔哥尼亚马拉(Dolichotispatagonum)中的三例钩端螺旋体病。所有三例病例均表现为不同的临床体征,包括嗜睡,结膜充血,高胆红素血症,和推测的肾性氮质血症。钩端螺旋体感染。通过全血(n=1,病例1)或尿液(n=2,病例2和3)的PCR诊断为死前。通过血清微凝集测试(n=3)测量的钩端螺旋体抗体滴度在1-3周期间在所有三只动物中均升高或增加了钩端螺旋体血清变型布拉迪斯拉发和Hardjo(病例1)和Gripotyposhosa(病例2和3)。三只动物中有两只对青霉素和多西环素的治疗和支持治疗有反应,而一只动物对治疗没有反应。这个人的死后发现包括结膜炎,化疗,脱水,icterus,三腔浆血积液,坏死性肝炎,弥漫性肺充血,和水肿。免疫组织化学检查确定了肝细胞和肾小管上皮细胞中分散的钩端螺旋体生物。该机构的野生浣熊(Procyonlotor)通过PCR对相同的钩端螺旋体的肾脏组织检测呈阳性。血清型,是可疑的感染源。本病例系列强调了钩端螺旋体病的临床重要性,与表现为嗜睡的巴塔哥尼亚maras不同,眼部体征,急性肝病,和氮质血症。
Rodents are typically viewed as asymptomatic reservoirs for leptospirosis infection, as clinical disease in rodents is rarely described. This report includes three separate cases of leptospirosis in Patagonian maras (Dolichotis patagonum) over a 3-yr period in multiple locations within a single zoo. All three cases presented with varying clinical signs including lethargy, conjunctival hyperemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and presumed renal azotemia. Infection with
Leptospira spp. was diagnosed antemortem by PCR on whole blood (n = 1, Case 1) or urine (n = 2, Cases 2 and 3).
Leptospira antibody titers measured by serum microagglutination testing (n = 3) were elevated or increased in all three animals over a 1-3-wk period for
Leptospira serovars Bratislava and Hardjo (Case 1) and Grippotyphosa (Case 2 and 3). Two of the three animals responded to treatment with penicillin and doxycycline and supportive care, whereas one animal did not respond to treatment. Postmortem findings in this individual included conjunctivitis, chemosis, dehydration, icterus, tricavitary serosanguinous effusions, necrotizing hepatitis, diffuse pulmonary congestion, and edema. Immunohistochemical examination identified scattered
Leptospira organisms within hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells. A wild raccoon (Procyon lotor) at the institution tested positive by PCR on kidney tissue for the same
Leptospira spp. serovar and was the suspected source of infection. This case series highlights the clinical importance of leptospirosis as a differential for Patagonian maras presenting with lethargy, ocular signs, acute hepatic disease, and azotemia.