Leptospirosis

Description

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals and represents an occupational hazard to veterinarians, abattoir workers, dairy and pig farmers. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

The most commonly encountered serovars associated with clinical disease are:

Cattle: L Hardjo, L Pomona
Pigs: L Pomona, L Tarassovi
Horses: L Pomona
Dogs: L Copenhageni

Zoonotic infections are usually acquired from the maintenance host for each serovar:

Cattle: L Hardjo
Pigs: L Pomona, L Tarassovi
Rats: L Copenhageni

In the maintenance host, infections by these specific serovars are likely to be endemic, whereas serovar infections in non-maintenance hosts are usually associated with sporadic outbreaks of disease. The most common manifestations of leptospirosis is milk drop syndrome/mastitis in cattle and abortion in other species.

In general, culture of tissues, stomach content, foetal fluids, urine or milk is not undertaken, except under specific arrangements with the laboratory.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is suggested by serology and confirmed by demonstration of leptospires (PCR, direct microscopic examination of urine or foetal fluids) and/or demonstration of organisms in kidney by histopathology.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
HIST_HE1	Histopathology – Preparation & Examination	Fixed Tissues- General Fresh tissues immediately placed in formalin Tissue pieces should not be greater than 1cm cubed to ensure proper fixation Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue Fixed Tissues- Nervous tissues Submission of whole brain is required to ensure preservation of TSE target sites submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue Brains submitted for Nervous tissues are processed once a week, separate to general tissues to ensure consistent and reliable results. Urgent cases can be processed out of cycle if clearly marked on the Submission Form however this may reduce the quality of the brain histology results, so should only be requested in extremely urgent cases. Fresh Tissues Fresh tissues can be submitted following necropsy The quality of the tissues will be reduced due to the effects of autolysis so ideally fixed tissue should be submitted in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue	All species	Up to 10D	$84.95	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday - Friday
L_AUS_MA	Leptospira Australis MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_CAN_MA	Leptospira Canicola MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine, Canine	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_COP_MA	Leptospira Copenhageni MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine, Canine, Feline	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_GRI_MA	Leptospira Grippotyphosa MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine, Canine, Caprine, Feline	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_HAR_MA	Leptospira Hardjo MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_ICT_MA	Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Canine, Caprine	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_POM_MA	Leptospira Pomona MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine, Caprine, Equine, Porcine, Ovine	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_TAR_MA	Leptospira Tarassovi MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine, Equine, Porcine	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
L_ZAN_MA	Leptospira Zanoni MAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled Aborted foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled	Bovine	Up to 5D	POA- Outsourced Currently	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Wednesday and Thursday
LEPTO_PCR	Leptospira sp. Real–time PCR*	Urine Aborted Foetus Whole aborted foetus with membranes Submit chilled Fresh Tissue Kidney and other tissues Embryo flush fluids PCR from culture	Bovine, Ovine, Porcine, Companion Animals	5D	$109.35	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday to Friday

Additional Sample Requirements

Fixed tissue
Kidney Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue

Additional Information

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

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CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568