Concurrent Leptospira borgpetersenii Serogroup Ballum and Ehrlichia canis Infection in a Dog in Israel: A Case Report

Leptospirosis is an infectious, zoonotic disease of a major worldwide importance of animals and humans (1, 2). It is caused by antigenically distinct serovars of the spirochetal bacterium Leptospira interrogans sensu lato. Over 200 serovars of L. interrogans sensu lato have been described and have been classified in different species (e.g., L. interrogans, L. kirschneri, L. borgpetersenii) (1-5). Antigenically-related serovars have been traditionally also divided into serogroups, based on serological methods. While serogroups have no taxonomic standing, this classification has proven useful for epidemiological purposes (1-3, 5). From a practical point of view, the protection induced by the currently available bacterins is restricted to the particular serogroup used for their production. The classification of leptospires might be somewhat confusing because there is an overlap of serogroups and newer classifications based on molecular methodologies. Historically, leptospirosis was a common disease of dogs, and had been most commonly caused by L. interrogans seConcurrent Leptospira borgpetersenii Serogroup Ballum and Ehrlichia canis Infection in a Dog in Israel: A Case Report