Leptospirosis in Canines: Clinical Disease, Zoonotic Implications, and Prevention in Nepal

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection in the world, caused by pathogenic Leptospira species, which causes the disease in humans, domestic, and wild animals. The clinical manifestations of leptospirosis in canines have a wide range of conditions, including subclinical infection up to dysfunction of multiple organs. Canines are accidental hosts that also become potential reservoirs of pathogenic leptospires, contributing to environmental contamination. Leptospirosis is also underdiagnosed and underreported in Nepal, with a lack of diagnostic facilities, poor awareness among veterinary practitioners, and epidemiological information. The paper is a review of available information on canine leptospirosis based on the situation in Nepal, which encompasses the clinical manifestations, diagnosis methods, zoonotic as well as preventive measures of the disease. In the paper, the significance of the One Health approach, the combina-tion of the veterinary, human health, and environmental domains to reduce the spread of diseases, has been stressed. Overall, vaccination, better surveillance, and public awareness about leptospirosis, along with better diagnostic features, are significant to reduce leptospirosis in dogs and decrease the one health risks.