Equine leptospiral pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome: An atypical manifestation of equine leptospirosis.
Authors: Decoster Céline, Lefère Laurence, Raes Els, van Loon Gunther, Dufourni Alexander
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Leptospirosis typically presents in horses as reproductive failure or systemic organ dysfunction, yet Decoster and colleagues document a clinically distinct manifestation—leptospiral pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome (LPHS)—that has been increasingly recognised in human and canine medicine but remains poorly characterised in equine patients beyond occasional foal cases. The research team reviewed clinical and pathological findings in both neonatal and adult horses presenting with acute respiratory compromise secondary to leptospiral infection, establishing diagnostic criteria through serological testing, bacterial culture, and histopathological examination of affected lung tissue. Whilst the authors report increasing case documentation of LPHS in adult horses, the condition appears to carry substantial morbidity and mortality risk comparable to that observed in other species, suggesting it may represent an underrecognised or under-reported atypical presentation of equine leptospirosis. For practitioners, this work underscores the importance of including leptospiral infection in the differential diagnosis of acute pulmonary haemorrhage in horses of all ages—particularly in animals with concurrent renal or hepatic involvement—and highlights the need for rapid serological and microbiological investigation in such cases. Enhanced awareness of LPHS may improve early recognition and intervention, though the prognosis remains guarded and biosecurity protocols warrant careful attention given the zoonotic risk to handlers and associated animals.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Recognize that equine leptospirosis may present with atypical pulmonary manifestations beyond the classical abortion, stillbirth, and organ failure presentations
- •Consider leptospiral infection in differential diagnoses for adult horses presenting with pulmonary haemorrhage, as this is a rare but potentially fatal complication
- •Be aware that LPHS carries a high fatality rate and may require urgent diagnostic and therapeutic intervention
Key Findings
- •Leptospiral Pulmonary Haemorrhage Syndrome (LPHS) is increasingly recognized in equine patients, representing an atypical manifestation of equine leptospirosis
- •LPHS has been associated with high fatality rates in human and canine patients infected with Leptospira species
- •Pulmonary haemorrhage in equine leptospirosis has primarily been documented in foals, with rare reports in adult horses