Clinical features of chronic kidney disease in dogs with the serological presence of Leptospira spp, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum

To characterize the clinical features of chronic kidney disease in dogs with serological evidence of Leptospira spp. from an endemic region, thirty-three dogs with chronic kidney disease were clinically evaluated from March 2019 to March 2020, all dogs were also serologically tested for Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum . Seroprevalence for Leptospira spp. was 39.4%. The most frequent serovars found were Pyrogenes, Canicola, Bratislava and Australis with serological titters between 1:100 and 1:800. No DNA was found in the urine. The most frequent clinical signs detected were fever, depression, decreased body condition, vomiting, and hematuria. Significant laboratory findings (p <0.05) were anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzymes, urea and creatinine, hyperbilirubinemia, and hyperphosphatemia. All leptospira seronegative dogs were positive at one or both monitored homoparasites (i.e. E. canis and A. phagocytophilum ); only 3 leptospira seroposive dogs were positive to one or both hemoparasite. Leptospirosis in dogs may be involved in the development of kidney disease, so it should be considered within the battery of clinical analysis, particularly in endemic areas. However, further studies are still required to determine the specific role of the various serovars associated with CKD. Findings also suggests that endemic hemoparasites of dogs should be monitored in dogs with a kidney condition for a better clinical picture of the patients and therapeutic approach.