Prospective evaluation of abdominal ultrasonographic findings in 35 dogs with leptospirosis.

Despite the emergence of new serovars, a detailed and current abdominal ultrasonographic description of dogs with leptospirosis is lacking. The purpose of this prospective, observational, single cohort study was to illustrate abdominal ultrasonographic findings in 35 dogs with confirmed leptospirosis. At least one ultrasonographic abnormality was seen in all of the dogs. Ultrasound renal abnormalities were found in all the dogs and included increased renal cortical echogenicity (100%), increased medullary echogenicity (86%), reduced corticomedullary definition (80%), cortical thickening (74%), renomegaly (60%), pelvic dilation (31%), and medullary band (14%). Hepatic changes were identified in 83% of the dogs, with diffuse hypoechoic parenchyma (71%) and hepatomegaly (60%). Biliary gallbladder abnormalities were found in 60% of the dogs, with biliary sludge (46%), wall thickening (29%), mucocele (26%), and hyperechoic wall (20%). The other most frequently observed abdominal abnormalities were perirenal (60%) and peritoneal (46%) effusions, small intestinal wall thickening (49%), and lymphadenopathy (38%). Two dogs (6%) presented with a small intestinal intussusception. No association was found between serogroups and the presence of ultrasonographic findings. This study is the first to prospectively and exhaustively describe abdominal ultrasonographic findings in dogs with leptospirosis. Our results should prompt clinicians to systematically perform abdominal ultrasounds on dogs with suspected leptospirosis even in the absence of abnormal physical signs. The presence of a gallbladder mucocele could be a warning sign of leptospirosis in dogs.