East River Park Suspected Source of Leptospirosis Contagion

[devdog]

(May 23, 2009) In the past month 4 dogs have contracted leptospirosis in the East Village area and reported it to First Run. One commonality is that they all visited East River Park.

Leptospirosis is a rare and often fatal disease in dogs that can easily spread to humans. The largest source of contagion in New York City for the disease is stagnant pools of water contaminated with rat urine.

The disease is endemic in the rat population thoughout the year. However when it rises in domestic animals such as dogs there is often an environmental or manmade event that is exacerbating its spread. This is especially indicated when a handful of dogs acquire the disease in one area over a short period of time.

4 dogs have contracted the disease in the East Village in the past 4 weeks -- odd since the number of cases in New York City typically fall under a dozen per year. There are likely to be more cases that haven't been reported or saught veterinary care. Medical bills releated to leptospirosis typically run from $5-8,000.00.

One commonality that owner's of the infected dogs have mentioned is that they all visited East River Park. This leads dog owners to wonder if something is furthering the spread of the disease in the local area. It should be noted that Dr. Becky Campbell of Symphony Vets grew equally alarmed when she observed nearly a handful of cases on the Upper West Side in 2003. That event was traced back to the rodent population and stagnant water in Riverside Park.

The flooded dance oval in East River Park may be furthering the spread of the disease. It is a pond size basin located just north of the tennis courts in East River Park. The oval remains flooded with stagnant water 365 days a year.

Rats drink and urinate in it which can further the spread of leptospirosis throughout the surrounding rat population.

Dogs may acquire the disease from drinking contaminated water, licking their paws after they run through stagnant puddles or simply by getting it splashed in their mouths. They can also acquire the disease by coming into contact with infected rat urine on nearby grasses -- or by killing, rolling or eating a dead rat that carries the leptospirochete bacteria.

Stagnant pools facilitate the spread of the bacteria throughout the rodent population which increases the likelihood of contagion to domestic dogs and humans.

Noting that leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that can pass from animals to humans, Cornell Diagnostic Laboratory Director Donald Lein said the infection can be an occupational hazard for people who work with animals. This used to be called 'milkers' disease. Our dog's are often the first to come into contact with leptospirosis when environmental vectors rise. This should be taken as an indication to rid the area of stagnant water to prevent further spread into the human population -- especially children.

The above information has been passed to veterinary specialists and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation for further comment.

Dog owners are also advised that vaccination protocols for leptospirosis are extremely controversial and not advised at this time. There are four different strains of leptospirosis common in the U.S. Each strain requires a different vaccination. Immunity from the vaccines are short lived (5-8 months) and are the frequent source of adverse side-effects. The strain seen in the East Village is currently not known. Do not let your dog roam free and staying out of areas filled with rats and stagnant water are considered the best forms of prevention.

Dog parks with communal water bowls and pools are NOT conisidered likely sources of transmission since fresh water is frequently flowing.