Leptospirosis in dogs of the city of São Paulo. A serological survey

Abstract

A serological survey was made in 125 dogs form the city of São Paulo (Brazil) in order to determine the incidence of recent or former leptospiral infection. The role of these animals as carriers could thus be determined. Agglutination tests were positive only for L. ictero-haemorrhagiae and L. canicola, 4,8% and 4,8% respectively, of the total. It is suggested that there is very little risk of human contagion from dog urine since there is no apparent correlation between agglutination test results and the presence of leptospiras in the kidney of dogs. This is certainly in disagreement with what happens in the case of rats.