Leptospirosis

1
Leptospirosis

• Usually thought to be a disease of the
  reproductive tract and urinary system.
• In calves caused redwater disease, rapid
  destruction of red blood cells, spreads rapidly,
  mortality 5 to 15 ( may be higher).
• Many strains of lepto exists, they tend to be
  species specific.

2

• Five strains of leptospirosis affect cattle
  
• Letospira pomona
• Leptospira canicola
• Leptospira grippotyphosa
• Leptospira hardjo
• Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae
• Leptospira bratislava seen in swine may infect
  cattle occasionally.

3
Symptoms of Leptospirosis

• High fever (105 to 106oF for 48 hours)
• Yellow tinge to eyes and gums
• Depression
• Diarrhea , reddish colored urine (due to
  breakdown of RCBs)
• Anemia
• Sudden cessation of milk production, mastitis

4

• Abortion (can occur at any stage of pregnancy,
  7th month is most common, sometimes see
  several animals abort close together-abortion
  storm).
• Organism carried in the kidneys, shed in urine,
  contaminates feed and water.
• Up to one million organisms per ml of urine.

5

• Oral transmission, 7 days incubation period,
  organism shed up to 14 days.
• Resistance develops in older cattle.
• Mortality in mature cattle is low (2 to 4).
• Wet pastures increase rate disease spreads
• Swine are a large carrier population, be careful
  about drainage from swine operations crossing
  cattle pastures or pens.

6
Treatment of Leptospirosis

• Antibiotics (oxytetracyclines, streptomycin)
• Fluid therapy
• Control fever (banamine or asprin)
• Can infuse washed red blood cells
• A iron dextran injection may help
• Control diarrhea

7
Prevention of Leptospirosis

• Vaccinate all breeding age animals 30 to 60 days
  prior to breeding annually.
• Man can get leptospirosis, symptoms resemble
  mononucleosis, often misdiagnosed.