Selected zoonotic pathogens and diseases from Ontario identified at the AHL, 2020

Murray Hazlett, Đurđa Slavić, Davor Ojkic, Hugh Cai

Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON

AHL Newsletter 2021;25(1):4.

Many new, emerging, and re-emerging diseases of people are caused by pathogens originating from animals or are shared between people and animals.  The AHL plays an important role in public health by identifying zoonotic pathogens in many animal specimens annually (Tables 1 and 2).  The percentage of animals identified as positive for leptospirosis was relatively unchanged in 2020 in all species.  The total number of submissions tested was about the same as 2019 or decreased slightly, except for dogs in which the number tested was down from to 214 to 171.  These are numerator data reliant upon submission biases to the diagnostic laboratory and cannot be regarded as population prevalence estimates.  They do not take into account vaccination status, as all species except horses may be routinely vaccinated for leptospirosis.  Monitoring programs are not included.  Brucella canis results are positive on the 2ME-RSAT.   AHL

Table 1. Number of cases with selected zoonotic pathogens isolated and/or identified at the AHL, 2020.

Table 2. Leptospira spp. seropositive, IHC-positive, or PCR-positive cases identified at the AHL, 2020