What is leptospirosis?

Christine Griebsch

writer

Christine Griebsch

Specialist and Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

Jacqueline Norris

writer

Jacqueline Norris

Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

Claim CPD for this activity

Educational Activities (EA)

0 hours

These are activities that expand general practice knowledge, skills and attitudes, related to your scope of practice.

Reviewing Performance (RP)

0 hours

These are activities that require reflection on feedback about your work.

Measuring Outcomes (MO)

0 hours

These are activities that use your work data to ensure quality results.

EA
0 minutes

These are activities that expand general practice knowledge, skills and attitudes, related to your scope of practice.

RP
0 minutes

These are activities that require reflection on feedback about your work.

MO
0 minutes

These are activities that use your work data to ensure quality results.

Recently reported cases of the often fatal bacterial infection leptospirosis in dogs in Sydney have raised the issue of animal diseases that also affect humans.

This zoonotic disease is spread by rats and other rodents. However, this latest cluster in dogs has not been accompanied by human cases in the Sydney area so far; dog cases aren’t always accompanied by human cases nearby.

So what is leptospirosis? And what can we do to protect ourselves and our pets from this potentially fatal disease?

There have been at least six confirmed cases of canine leptospirosis so far in Sydney’s inner west and city in 2019, with three in May and June. Five of the six dogs died.

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
A/Prof Nicole Goh

A/Prof Nicole Goh

Detection, Assessment and Management of Pulmonary Fibrosis

A/Prof Robyn Saw

A/Prof Robyn Saw

Practical Melanoma Management for GPs

Dr Bobby Chan

Dr Bobby Chan

Preventing Renal Failure in Type 2 Diabetes – New Options

Dr Victoria Hayes

Dr Victoria Hayes

Management of Post-Vaccination Reactions

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Christine Griebsch

writer

Christine Griebsch

Specialist and Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

Jacqueline Norris

writer

Jacqueline Norris

Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

In your opinion, will the mass resignation of psychiatrists in NSW prompt government action?

Yes

0%

No

0%

Recent podcasts

Listen to expert interviews.
Click to open in a new tab

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Get ahead of your learning in 2025 and earn up to 24 hours of CPD across all three learning categories (EA, RP & MO).