Canine Leptospirosis – Owner Knowledge in Estonia

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease with a worldwide distribution infecting most mammals, including both dogs and humans. The aim of this descriptive study was to obtain an overview of the current knowledge of dog owners in Estonia about canine leptospirosis, its distribution, causative agent, clinical signs, risk factors, transmission, vaccination and zoonotic significance. The data was collected via questionnaire in which a total of 116 dog owners visiting the small animal clinic of Estonian University of Life Sciences during a 5-month period participated. The main findings were that most owners (68%, n=79) had never heard of canine leptospirosis before and that only 14% (n=5) of the owners with prior knowledge about the disease (n=37) knew about the possibility of zoonotic transmission between dogs and humans. Most owners with prior knowledge (84%, n=31) knew about the availability of a vaccine against leptospirosis but only less than half of the people had vaccinated their dog. Majority of the owners did not know that vaccination does not fully prevent their dog getting infected. The results indicate that dog owners in Estonia have limited knowledge on canine leptospirosis. Based on our results, there is a need to raise awareness of canine leptospirosis, particularly about its prevention and zoonotic risks it poses to public health.

Leptospiroos on ülemaailmse levikuga zoonootiline bakteriaalne haigus, mis nakatab enamik imetajatest, sealhulgas ka koeri ja inimesi. Selle kirjeldava uuringu eesmärk oli saada ülevaade Eesti koeraomanike praegustest teadmistest koerte leptospiroosi, selle leviku, tekitaja, kliinilste tunnuste, riskifaktorite, edasikandumise, vaktsineerimise ja zoonootilise tähtsuse kohta. Andmed koguti küsimustiku kaudu, millest võtsid osa 116 koeraomanikku, kes külastasid Eesti Maaülikooli väikeloomakliinikut 5 kuulise ajaperioodi vältel. Peamised uurimuse tulemused olid, et enamus omanikke (68%, n=79) ei olnud leptospiroosist kunagi varem kuulnud ja ainult 14% (n=5) nendest omanikest, kellel oli haiguse kohta varasem teadmine (n=37), teadsid võimalikust zoonootilisest ülekandumisest koerte ja inimeste vahel. Enamus omanikkudest, kellel oli varasem teadmine (84%, n=31), teadsid leptospiroosi vastase vaktsiini olemasolust aga ainult vähem kui pooled nendest inimestest olid oma koeri vaktsineerinud. Suurem osa omanikest ei teadnud, et vaktsineerimine ei hoia täielikult ära nende koera nakatumist. Tulemused viitavad, et Eesti koeraomanikel on koerte leptospiroosi kohta piiratud teadmised. Tuginedes meie uuringu tulemustele saame öelda, et koerte leptospiroosi, eelkõige selle ennetamise ja zoonotilise riski osas on vaja teadlikkust tõsta, kuna see kujutab ohtu rahva tervisele.