Leptospirosis (also known as canine typhus, Stuttgart disease, Stuttgart's disease, canicola fever) is an infectious disease, a blood infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira. that causes serious illness in dogs, other animals, and people. The disease is caused by spiral-shaped bacteria called leptospires that live in water or warm, wet soil. The disease causes serious damage to the kidney and liver, and may be fatal in severe cases. Wild animals, including skunks, raccoons, opossums, rats, wolves, and deer, can spread infection to dogs. (see: Wikipedia)