Which species is more susceptible to leptospirosis?

• A. Dogs
• B. Cats
• C. Ferrets
• D. Birds

Answer: (A)

Leptospirosis is more likely to cause noticeable illness in species that have frequent exposure to environments where the bacterium thrives, such as water and soil contaminated with urine from infected animals. Dogs fit this pattern best because they commonly swim or roam outdoors, visit ponds or muddy areas, and may have close contact with contaminated sources. This combination of high exposure and the kidney-liver disease pattern the infection tends to cause in dogs makes them the species most susceptible to clinically significant leptospirosis.

Cats can be infected but are less frequently affected and often have subclinical or milder disease. Birds are not typical reservoirs for Leptospira and are rarely a concern in practice. Ferrets can get leptospirosis, but it’s much less common than in dogs. So, the species with the highest risk of symptomatic disease in typical clinical settings is dogs.