Acute renal disease from Leptospira interrogans in three yearlings from the same farm

Abstract

Summary Renal dysfunction due to leptospirosis has been reported infrequently in the horse. The animals in this case presentation developed an acute and persistent febrile illness that could have been attributed to a number of infectious diseases. Upon numerous subsequent clinical evaluations, detection of renal dysfunction narrowed the list of differential diagnoses. This Case Report describes 3 horses with acute renal disease from Leptospira interrogans . Pyrexia was the initial clinical sign and was refractory to antimicrobial therapy. Once azotaemia developed, leptospirosis was diagnosed as the origin of the renal dysfunction. Treatment included i.v. crystalloid fluids, diuretics, anti‐inflammatory medication, antibiotics, pentoxifylline and polysulphated glucosaminoglycan. Additionally, one of these 3 horses required a continuous infusion of vasopressors to resolve the azotaemia. Pyrexia resolved within 48 h of treatment initiation for leptospirosis. The azotaemia resolved completely after 3 months ( Case 1 ), 3 weeks ( Case 2 ) and 5 days ( Case 3 ).