Episode 68 – Just A Thought… Diagnosing Leptospirosis

We’re switching things up in 2025 with a slightly different format. You’ll still get all the great conversations with inspiring people across the veterinary profession, but we’re also introducing shorter, standalone clinical veterinary CPD segments to focus on key topics.

This week, we’re taking a closer look at diagnosing leptospirosis in dogs—a zoonotic disease that requires accurate diagnosis for both public health and effective treatment. Due to the challenges of culturing leptospires, veterinarians rely on serologic tests like the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), ELISA, and PCR to confirm infection.

Key Takeaways:

• MAT is the gold standard but has limitations—paired titers improve accuracy.
• ELISA & Lateral Flow Assays provide rapid results but should be used alongside other tests.
• PCR detects leptospiral DNA in blood or urine and is most reliable before antibiotics are administered.
• A combination of MAT & PCR is often needed, especially in vaccinated dogs.

Tune in for a deeper dive!