The Changing Geography of Leptospirosis
Veterinarians were always taught that leptospirosis was prevalent in only the warmer, wetter regions of the United States. But this is no longer the case.
Veterinarians were always taught that leptospirosis was prevalent in only the warmer, wetter regions of the United States. But Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT, founder of VETgirl, explains that the geography of leptospirosis has since drastically changed.
We were taught leptospirosis had an increased prevalence in the northeast, northwest, southeast, and central areas of the country, Dr. Lee says. But she says one study found that 40% of US counties have positive leptospirosis, proving that the disease is everywhere now. Even Arizona had a large outbreak of leptospirosis last year, Dr. Lee explains, which is a desert-like state.
