Rapid leptospirosis test FASTest® LEPTOSPIRA

immunityfor dogsIgM

FASTest® LEPTOSPIRA IgM is a rapid immunochromatographic test for the qualitative detection of IgM antibodies against Leptospira spp. in plasma, whole blood supernatant or serum of the dog. Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) is a world-wide spread bacterial infectious disease in various animals and humans (zoonosis!). Of the pathogen species Leptospira interrogans sensu lato, more than 300 serovars are known which are summarised in 24 serogroups of varying pathogenicity. Due to non-existence of a cross immunity of the vaccination serovars and an increasing “serovar shift”, leptospirosis becomes more important (world-wide increasing prevalences especially for L. icterohaemorrhagia, L. canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. australis and L. pomona). Transmission is direct: horizontal (esp. infectious abortion material, urine, food animals [pathogen reservoir: rodents, small mammals], bites, veneric), vertical (lactogenic, placental) and indirect: contaminated soil, water. Incubation time as well as symptoms are strongly depending on age, immune status, serovar type. Subclinical infections are rather the rule (higher seroprevalence than the prevalence of the clinical disease), proven by numerous studies. With present immunity due to past infection, normally quick antibody (ab) formation and pathogen elimination takes place. Typical are general symptoms like fever, apathy, anorexia, power drop, loss of weight, partially diarrhoea 3–7 days after infection as well as pale icteric mucous membranes. Other symptoms are late abortuses, dead births,