Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease of pig-hunting dogs and humans in North Queensland

Approximately one quarter (26%) of unvaccinated pig-hunting dogs in North Queensland, Australia, tested positive for Leptospira spp., with the dominant serovar being Australis. While vaccination appeared less effective, 73% of vaccinated dogs also showed seropositivity. The study, which analyzed serum samples and surveyed dog owners, found that pig hunters may face a higher risk of leptospirosis compared to the general population. Human cases were concentrated in the Wet Tropics region, with serovar Arborea being the most common (10.9%), while Topaz emerged as a significant serovar in both humans and dogs—a previously unrecorded finding in Australian dogs. The research highlights the need for a 'one health' approach to manage this emerging zoonotic disease, given shifting climatic patterns that influence human-animal-environment interactions.

Orr, B., Westman, M. E., Malik, R., Purdie, A., Craig, S. B., & Norris, J. M. (2022). Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease of pig-hunting dogs and humans in North Queensland. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(1), e0010100. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010100