Leptospirosis in a group of Rattus norvegicus kept as pet with subsequent zoonotic transmission

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which affects wild and domestic animals and also humans, with dogs and synanthropic rodents being the main urban reservoirs. The present work aims to report the case of a group of twister rats kept as pets affected by leptospirosis with subsequent transmission to a tutor. In the first consultation, it was reported that one of the animals had neurological symptoms. Subsequently, showing signs of pain and discomfort. In addition, a corneal ulcer was found in the right eyeball. At the same time, the tutor was diagnosed with leptospirosis. Thus, as the reported animal shared the environment with four other specimens, a joint infection was suspected, and the diagnosis was confirmed after performing the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. In humans and other species, when diagnosed at an early stage and with prompt treatment, it has a high chance of cure. When there is a drastic worsening of the clinical picture, euthanasia in animals is the most prudent solution to be taken, and this measure was adopted in this report.