This systematic review developed an evidence-based framework for feline pain management. The systematic search of Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PubMed from 1980 to october 2023 found 42 eligible studies that explored pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to feline pain management. The outcome measures included analgesic efficacy, rescue analgesia, and adverse effects. Rescue analgesia was a key endpoint in multimodal therapies and was mostly used in severe pain models. Multimodal therapies were mainly employed in complex cases/procedures with severe pain potentials, resulting in higher rescue rate (16.6%) compared to monotherapy in routine procedures/ neuter (5.29%). Pre-emptive analgesics were always associated with the best outcomes. The UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional scale was one of the most frequently used and validated pain assessment tools. The adverse effects were usually easy to manage, with the most frequent being opioid-related dysphoria and NSAID-related gastrointestinal effects. Following these results, we propose a tiered framework: a base of NSAIDs and local anaesthetics (Tier E1), supplemented with opioids for severe pain (Tier E2) and adjunctive stress-reducers (Tier E3). This is a pre-emptive, structured and severity-specific method necessary to ameliorate the cycle of treating pain insufficiently, thereby improving the welfare of cats, as well as staff safety and strengthening the veterinary practice.

Stray cats and dogs have been reported to shed Leptospira spp., and wild rats are speculated to be involved. We aimed to elucidate the role of wild rats in transmitting Leptospira to stray cats and dogs in Malaysia. We tested sera from 124 wild rats with the microscopic agglutination test (MAT): 88 of 122 (72%) sera were positive (titer ≥1:100), with the predominant serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bataviae, Ballum, Javanica, Lai, and Pomona. With a Leptospira-specific PCR assay, we detected pathogenic Leptospira spp. in 33 of 124 (27%) kidney samples and 13 of 79 (16%) urine samples. Isolates obtained by culture of rat kidney and urine were identified to the species level with MAT using hyperimmune sera and the PCR assay. From 29 isolates, 2 pathogenic species were identified: L. interrogans serovar Bataviae and L. borgpetersenii serovar Javanica. Phylogenetic analysis using partial 16S rDNA sequences of the Leptospira spp. from the wild rats indicated that the species were similar to isolates from stray cats and dogs in previous studies. We confirmed that wild rats carried pathogenic Leptospira spp. and were a potential source of leptospiral infection of stray cats and dogs in Malaysia.

Wound healing is a vital field of study in both human and veterinary medicine, particularly in the treatment of chronic wounds. Platelet-rich plasma, known for its potential to enhance tissue regeneration due to its high concentration of growth factors, can be further processed into Platelet-rich plasma lysate. As an acellular product, Platelet-rich plasma lysate may exhibit reduced immunogenicity and can be stored frozen for future applications. Using heterologous Platelet-rich plasma lysate derived from larger animal species can be beneficial, particularly for veterinary patients who are unable to provide their own blood due to conditions such as low body weight, coagulopathy, or anemia. This study aims to evaluate and compare the in vitro wound-healing effects of Platelet-rich plasma lysate derived from equine, porcine, and caprine sources on dermal fibroblasts. Platelet-rich plasma lysate was prepared using a double centrifugation method and freeze-thaw protocol, and its effects were assessed through cell viability and in vitro wound healing assays. The cell viability assay revealed a positive dose-dependent effect of Platelet-rich plasma lysate from all tested animal species. Notably, 10% and 20% Platelet-rich plasma lysate from caprine and equine sources, as well as 20% caprine Platelet-rich plasma lysate, showed significantly higher cell viability compared to the negative control (p < 0.05). The in vitro wound healing assay showed that all Platelet-rich plasma lysate from the selected species had positive cell migration effects on dermal fibroblasts comparable to the positive control (10% Fetal Bovine Serum) at 5% concentration. However, a negative dose-dependent effect followed at higher concentrations. When compared to negative control, only positive control (10% Fetal Bovine Serum), 5% porcine Platelet-rich plasma lysate, as well as 5% and 10% caprine Platelet-rich plasma lysate were found to have significantly higher cell migration effect on dermal fibroblasts at 48-hour post-scratch. These findings highlight the potential of animal-derived Platelet-rich plasma lysate particularly of caprine origin, as an alternative treatment for wound healing, though further in vivo studies are needed to confirm its clinical applicability.

Ceruminous glands are specialized apocrine sweat glands. Neoplastic transformation of these glands is often seen in the external ear canal. Tumors arising from these glands can present a diagnostic dilemma because of their varied clinical and histological manifestations. This study was conducted as little information is currently available on these neoplasms. The present study undertakes a scoping review of research on canine and feline CGTs according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for scoping reviews on three databases (NCBI-PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect) from 1980 to 2023 (43 years) to determine the extent of the existing literature on its clinicopathological characteristics, overall prognosis, survival rates, and biomarker studies. Seventeen canine and nineteen feline publications that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Eleven canine and twelve feline unpublished cases of CGTs managed in Malaysia were also reviewed. Our study concluded surgical excision as part of the treatment for this neoplasia may lengthen animals’ survival period and produce a satisfactory quality of life; however, a substantial risk of complications, especially after aggressive surgical excision, exists.

This study compares the microbiological, radiological and histological effects of irrigation with povidone-iodine, hydrogen peroxide or saline on wound and fracture healing in an animal open fracture model. This study used an open fracture tibia model in a New Zealand White rabbit treated with debridement and irrigation 24 hours after the initial fracture. Irrigation was performed via gravity flow with either 20 mL of 0.9% saline, povidone-iodine 10% or hydrogen peroxide 3%, followed by rinsing with 100 mL saline. Tissue samples were taken before and after debridement for microbiological assessment of bacterial clearance and histological evaluation of wound inflammation. Radiographs were performed at intervals to assess the progress of fracture union. Eight weeks later, the tibia and surrounding tissues were extracted to histologically evaluate fracture and wound healing. All wounds healed well with no clinical evidence of infection. Reduction of the bacterial load was seen with irrigation by povidone-iodine. Fractures irrigated with povidone-iodine had a relatively faster radiological progression of fracture union than saline. There was no histological difference in wound and fracture healing among the tested solutions. This study provides evidence that povidone-iodine does not impair fracture healing. However, as this was a pilot study with a small sample size, a larger study is required to confirm statistical significance and clinical relevance.

Regenerative endodontics aims to restore pulp tissues, thus preserving the vitality of the tooth. One promising approach involves the utilization of decellularized human dental pulp (DHDP) as a scaffold repopulated with Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs). This study aimed to regenerate pulp tissues using DHDP and WJMSCs following pulpectomy in mature canine teeth of a feline animal model and to investigate the histological features of the regenerated pulp.A 12-month-old male domestic shorthaired felines were used as subjects. Teeth were categorized into untreated (Group 1), pulpectomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (Group 2), and pulpectomy with DHDP-repopulated scaffold and MTA (Group 3). The animals were sacrificed six weeks post-intervention. H&E and immunohistochemistry using anti-collagen type 1 and laminin antibodies were used to stain the tissue sections.Histological examinations presented pulp-like tissues in Group 3, with tissue components similar to the structures found in Group 1. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of collagen type I and laminin within the regenerated tissues. The root canals of teeth in Group 2 were devoid of pulpal tissue.DHDP with WJMSCs can potentially be used for pulp regeneration, supporting the modality for developing new clinical protocols in stem cell therapy.

Therapeutic proteins like platelet-rich plasma have been used as adjunct therapies for wound healing. The delivery of these proteins may require a special carrier as a controlled release to prolong and optimize the healing effects on the affected tissues. The present study focuses on preparing and characterizing a hydrogel made from gellan gum to act as a scaffold to carry therapeutic proteins intended for wound healing. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) was used as a representative for therapeutic proteins due to its ability to stimulate cell proliferation in vitro. FBS, gellan gum (GG) hydrogel, and FBS-loaded gellan gum hydrogel (GF) were prepared and characterized by the detection of its functional groups through FTIR and elemental analysis through CHNS analyzer, confirming the entrapment of biomolecules of FBS into GG. The protein release study showed a burst release of protein from all GF variants with subsequent gradual slow release over 72 hours period. Cell viability (MTT) assay showed an increasing trend of cell viability percentage with the increasing concentration of FBS loaded into GG hydrogel. The results of this study support the potential use of GG hydrogel as a carrier of therapeutic proteins for wound regeneration.

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent, chronic immune-inflammatory disease of the periodontium that results in the periodontium and alveolar bone loss's progressive destruction. In this study, the induction of periodontal disease via retentive ligature, lipopolysaccharide, and their combination at three different times were compared in a rat model. Seventy-two Sprague Dawley rats were distributed into four treatment groups: 1) control group with no treatment; 2) application of 4/0 nylon ligature around second maxillary molars; 3) combination of ligature and LPS injection (ligature-LPS); 4) intragingival injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) to the palatal mucosa of the second maxillary molars. Six rats were sacrificed from each group after 7, 14, and 30 days of periodontal disease induction. Alveolar bone loss, attachment loss, number of inflammatory cells, and blood vessels were evaluated histologically. A micro-CT scan was used as a parameter to know the rate of alveolar bone loss. Parametric data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni correction with a significance set at 5%. Non-parametric data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, followed by multiple comparisons with Bonferroni correction. The histological results revealed significant destructive changes in the periodontal tissues and alveolar bone following the ligature and ligature-LPS induction techniques. These changes were evident as early as seven days, maintained until 14 days post-treatment, and declined with time. The ligature technique was effective in inducing acute periodontal disease. The LPS injection technique did not induce alveolar bone loss, and its combination to ligature added insignificant effects.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of involvement of common viral organisms R. equi and K. pneumoniae and their clinicopathological and radiological features in respiratory disease of Malaysian domestic cats. A total of 34 feline cases with acute/chronic infectious respiratory disease signs were followed prospectively to investigate respiratory disease due to R. equi and K. pneumoniae and their relationship with concurrent viral infections in disease manifestation. All sampled cats (n = 27) were positive for FCoV antibodies and negative for FeLV. A significantly high antibody titer for FCV in n = 26 cases was also noticed. A single sample of pyothorax from a 3-months-old, non-vaccinated kitten was positive for R. equi. Bronchopneumonia with severe infiltration of the polymorphs and mononuclear inflammatory cells were prominent features of lungs histopathology from the kitten positive for R. equi. K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae was confirmed from tracheal swabs of two cats. Histologically, the tracheal tissues of the two cats positive for K. pneumoniae were normal. In diagnostic imaging, epicenter of the infectious URT disease was nasal conchae rostrally and nasal turbinates caudally, however for infectious LRT disease was bronchial tree. Conclusively, infectious respiratory disease is a complex illness in cats, predominantly for unvaccinated kittens and young adult cats, especially those kept in multi-cat household or shelter environments because of the involvement of multiple bacterial and viral organisms as primary or secondary invaders. Clinicians should not preclude feline rhodococcosis from differentials, especially in kittens with pyothorax and less than one year of age. Unlike R. equi, K. pneumoniae has the potential to colonize URT of cats which might be disseminating further to cause LRT disease.

Early detection of feline hepatic lipidosis (FHL) with appropriate treatment can increase prognosis significantly. This study looks into the serum biochemistry and lipid composition of serum and liver samples in a group of stray cats (N=18) collected from pounds in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in blood serum was used to detect for liver damage possibly due to FHL, confirmed through light microscopy, serum biochemistry (triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, and urea), liver triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, and liver RNA expression of lipid droplet regulators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Differing severity of FHL in samples were divided and grouped using an adapted scoring method observing fatty change of liver (FCL) with trends between FCL groups investigated. Elevated serum ALT reflective of increasing FCL severity was observed with elevated concentrations of liver TAG and cholesterol levels. Serum TAG and cholesterol decreased with heightened FCL pointing to fatty acid oxidation and lipid restoration in the liver, supported by PPAR-γ expression which also propose macrophage activation for liver recovery alongside PPAR-δ for lipogenesis and inflammatory reactions. Elevated serum creatinine and urea levels with increasing FCL severity propose overall intact hepatic function in the stray cat samples.

Bone plates and screws are often recommended to fix vertebral fracture and luxation in dogs although several complications had been reported. The canine vertebral screw and rod fixation (CVSRF) system, a device tailored for the canine spine, is a modified system from the human pedicle screw. This study aimed to determine the optimal corridor implantation of CVSRF and to investigate the potential trauma to the vertebrae and spinal cord in medium-sized dogs. Two screws of 16 mm and 20 mm and rods of 40 mm and 45 mm in length were inserted into the pedicles of L1 and L2 in six dogs. Safe implantation angles for 16 mm screw were 52.67 degrees +/- 10.40o and 58.59 degrees +/- 7.72o at L1 and L2, respectively. The angle of the 20 mm screw at L1 was recorded at 56.03 degrees +/- 5.34o and 55.67 degrees +/- 2.89o at L2. No gross and histological lesion was found on the spinal cord and vertebrae although minimal microfractures of the vertebrae were observed histologically. Findings from this study suggest that CVSRF is feasible for medium-sized dogs using 16 mm screws, however, a long-term study is required to determine the stability and durability of the system.

Background. Animal models are significant for understanding human osteoarthritis (OA). This study compared the synovial fluid proteomics changes in surgical and chemical induced OA models. Methods. Thirty rabbits either had anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) procedure or injected intra-articularly with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA, 8 mg) into the right knee. The joints were anatomically assessed, and the synovial fluid proteins analyzed using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DGE) and MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometry analysis at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The proteins' upregulation and downregulation were compared with control healthy knees. Results. Seven proteins (histidine-rich glycoprotein, beta-actin-like protein 2 isoform X1, retinol-binding protein-4, alpha-1-antiproteinase, gelsolin isoform, serotransferrin, immunoglobulin kappa-b4 chain-C-region) were significantly expressed by the surgical induction. They characterized cellular process (27%), organization of cellular components or biogenesis (27%), localization (27%) and biological regulation (18%), which related to synovitis, increased cellularity, and subsequently cartilage damage. Three proteins (apolipoprotein I-IV precursor, serpin peptidase inhibitor and haptoglobin precursor) were significantly modified by the chemical induction. They characterized stimulus responses (23%), immune responses (15%), biological regulations (15%), metabolism (15%), organization of cellular components or biogenesis (8%), cellular process (8%), biological adhesions (8%) and localization (8%), which related to chondrocytes glycolysis/death, neovascularization, subchondral bone necrosis/collapse and inflammation. Conclusions. The surgical induced OA model showed a wider range of protein changes, which were most upregulated at week 12. The biological process proteins expressions showed the chemical induced joints had slower OA progression compared to surgical induced joints. The chemical induced OA joints showed early inflammatory changes, which later decreased.

A three-year-old Saanen buck presented with a complaint of stranguria for 24 hours. A physical examination revealed that the perineal urethra was turgid, swollen, and tender, and the urinary bladder was distended. The goat was diagnosed with obstructive urolithiasis. A percutaneous tube cystotomy technique was performed to relieve progressive urinary bladder distension. Using a human suprapubic urinary bladder catheter system, the technique was performed twice due to the recurrence of the blocked urethra. Following drainage of the urine, all vital parameters returned to normal. After surgical cystotomy, an intraoperative observation revealed the urinary bladder was filled with white sandy urolith, which was removed through the surgical tube cystotomy technique. A preoperative urethrogram and cystourethrogram were performed to assess the presence of urolith along the urinary tract. The case outcome supports using a human suprapubic urinary bladder catheter as a rapid method for immediate relief of a distended urinary bladder in a goat.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifaceted condition that affects both the subchondral bones and the articular cartilage. Animal models are widely used as an effective supplement and simulation for human OA studies in investigating disease mechanisms and pathophysiology. This study is aimed to evaluate the temporal changes of bone and cartilage in surgically and chemically induced osteoarthritis using micro-computed tomography and histology. Methods Thirty rabbits underwent either anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) procedure or injected intraarticularly with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA, 8 mg) at the right knee joint. The subchondral bones were scanned via micro-CT, and articular cartilage was assessed histologically at 4-, 8- and 12-week post-induction. Results Based on bone micro-architecture parameters, the surgically induced group revealed bone remodelling processes, indicated by increase bone volume, thickening of trabeculae, reduced trabecular separation and reduced porosity. On the other hand, the chemically induced group showed active bone resorption processes depicted by decrease bone volume, thinning of trabeculae, increased separation of trabecular and increased porosity consistently until week 12. Histologically, the chemically induced group showed more severe articular cartilage damage compared to the surgically induced group. Conclusions It can be concluded that in the ACLT group, subchondral bone remodelling precedes articular cartilage damage and vice versa in the MIA group. The findings revealed distinct pathogenic pathways for both induction methods, providing insight into tailored therapeutic strategies, as well as disease progression and treatment outcomes monitoring.

Leptospirosis is an endemic zoonoses of global proportions. Stray dogs have been postulated to play a role in disease transmission; however, supporting information are still limited. Roaming behavior may not only predispose the dogs to infection, but could also contribute to disease spread. In this study, the susceptibility of urban stray dogs in shedding Leptospira spp. was determined. Blood, urine, and tissue samples of kidney and liver were collected from 100 dogs from 2 animal control facilities. Serological testing using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were performed on blood against 20 leptospiral serovars with a cut-off titre of ≥ 1:100. Samples were cultured onto semi-solid Ellinghausen and McCullough modified by Johnson and Harris (EMJH) media. Isolates were identified using molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 2 primers (16s rRNA and LipL32) and hyperimmune serum (HIS) MAT. The seroprevalence for the dogs positive for leptospirosis was 32% (n=32/100) with the following detected serovars: Javanica (n=13), Bataviae (n=10), Icterohaemorrhagiae (n=3), Autumnalis (n=2), Canicola (n=1), Pyrogenes (n=1), Copenhageni (n=1), and Australis (n=1). Six Leptospira spp. isolated were procured from urine (n=2), kidney (n=2) and liver (n=2). All 6 isolates belonged to L. interrogans, a pathogenic variant of Leptospira spp. Serotyping and phylogenetic analysis suggested serovar Bataviae (n=5) and serovar Canicola (n=1). Presence of vaccinal serovars (Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola) suggested potential post-vaccination antibodies but the predominance of non-vaccinal serovars (Javanica and Bataviae) indicate the possibility of current infection or post-exposure. Isolation of Leptospira spp. directly from urine sample not only suggested an active infection but highlighted the potential shedding capability among these stray dogs. These findings further strengthen speculations that urban stray dogs could play a role in transmission and dissemination of leptospirosis through their constant movement. The urine of infected dogs may contaminate the environment, posing a major public health threat.

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease that leads to the degradation of periodontium and results in alveolar bone loss. The development of a suitable animal model of periodontitis is a prerequisite to understanding better the mechanisms that underly this disease. This study evaluated periodontal disease induction via retentive ligature, intragingival injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and their combination in a rat model.Seventy-two Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. The first group (control) did not receive any treatment. The second group underwent the application of 4/0 nylon ligature around the second maxillary molars. The third group was treated with an intragingival injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS into the palatal mucosa of the second maxilla molars, and the fourth group was treated with a combination of ligature and LPS injection (ligature-LPS). Morphological changes in the gingival tissues were evaluated after 7, 14, and 30 days of treatment.Significant degenerative changes were observed in the periodontal tissues and alveolar bone in the third and fourth groups, which were evident as early as seven days. The lesions remained until 14 days and declined with time in the third and fourth groups. The changes induced by ligature and ligature-LPS were not different. Injection with LPS alone resulted in minimal increases in the Gingival and Plaque Indices.The ligature technique induced periodontal disease successfully, more effective than the injection of LPS. The combination of ligature with LPS injection added no significant effect compared to ligature alone.

chronic debilitating condition, grooming deficiency, and sometimes bleeding from the mouth (Healey et al., 2007;Bellei et al., 2008).FCGS occurs globally with a prevalence range of 0.7% to 12% (Winer et al., 2016).Clinically FCGS manifested as severe chronic inflammation of caudal, gingival, buccal, and labial, palatoglossal, and/ or other remaining part's mucosa of the oral cavity (Peralta and Carney, 2019).Factors such as innate

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira spp. and it has emerged as one of the major public health issues worldwide. Despite extensive studies, information regarding leptospirosis in animal shelters in Malaysia is still scarce. The aim of this study was to determine anti-Leptospira antibodies and the most common circulating serogroups among humans and animals in animal shelters in west and south parts of Peninsular Malaysia. Blood samples were obtained from 58 humans, 127 dogs, and 47 cats, that were recruited from two shelters. All humans and dogs appeared healthy, except few cats showed clinical signs of mild feline upper respiratory disease. Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was used to detect anti-Leptospira antibodies against 20 pathogenic serovars. Based on the cut-off antibody titre >= 1:100, the sero-detection of Leptospira spp. in human, dogs, and cats were as 8.62%, 20.47%, and 14.89%, respectively. Serogroup Bataviae was found in human, dogs and cats, whereas Bataviae, Javanica, and Ballum were the common serogroups among dogs and cats. Anti-Leptospira antibodies titres were in the range from 1:100 to 1:200 in human and 1:100 to 1:400 in sheltered animals. Sero-detection studies of anti-Leptospira antibodies in shelters environment worldwide and regionally is necessary to increase the public health awareness and to understand the risk of this zoonotic disease. Furthermore, data regarding the predominant serogroups is needed in a local setting for further vaccination development studies. More studies are warranted to investigate the role of sheltered animals in leptospiral transmission in its environment.

Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases and can infect both humans and animals worldwide. Healthy cat, as a potential source of exposure to humans, are likely underestimated owing to the lack of overt clinical signs associated with Leptospira spp. infection in this species. The aim of the study was to determine the exposure, shedding, and carrier status of leptospires in shelter cats in Malaysia by using serological, molecular, and bacteriological methods. For this study, 82 healthy cats from two shelters were sampled. The blood, urine, and kidneys were tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and bacterial culture. On the basis of serological, molecular, and/or culture techniques, the total detection of leptospiral infection was 29.3% (n = 24/82). Through culture techniques, 16.7% (n = 4/24) of the cats that tested positive were carriers with positive kidney cultures, and one cat was culture positive for both urine and kidney. The Leptospira spp. isolates were identified as pathogenic L. interrogans serovar Bataviae through serological and molecular methods. Through serological techniques, 87.5% (n = 21/24) had positive antibody titers (100-1600) and most of the Bataviae serogroup (n = 19/21). Using PCR, 16.7% (n = 4/24) of cats were shown to have pathogenic Leptospira spp. DNA in their urine. Furthermore, three out of four culture positive cats were serology negative. The present study reports the first retrieval of pathogenic leptospires from urine and kidneys obtained from naturally infected cats. The results provide evidence of the potential role of naturally infected cats in the transmission of leptospires. Additionally, leptospiral infection occurs sub-clinically in cats. The culture isolation provides evidence that healthy cats could be reservoirs of leptospiral infection, and this information may promote the development of disease prevention strategies for the cat population.

The incidence of leptospirosis seems to be on the rise and could be an alarming indirect indication of a global re-emergence. It is a potential public health threat when dogs are speculated to be involved in the transmission of leptospirosis through possible subclinical harbouring of Leptospira spp. and subsequent shedding into the environment. This study aimed to detect anti-leptospiral antibodies among dogs and their handlers using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Blood samples from 266 apparently healthy dogs and 194 dog handlers were collected at four working dog organisations and four dog shelters. Serum samples were tested using MAT against 20 leptospiral serovars with a cut-off titre >= 1:100 (dog) and >= 1:50 (dog handlers). Seventy dogs (70/266; 26.3%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, Bataviae and Javanica (titres ranged: 1:100-1:800). Sixty-seven dog handlers (67/194; 34.5%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Malaysia (titres ranged: 1:50-1:200). Dogs were seropositive due to exposure, vaccination or active infection. Seropositive dog handlers could indicate exposure or active infection. This shows the potential of dogs in maintaining and spreading the infection in Malaysia. Due to the occupational risk as a result of frequent contact with dogs and exposure to contaminated environments, dog handlers should be made aware of the presence of this zoonotic disease.