With an increased vigilance around zoonotic diseases (diseases which transfer directly from animals to humans), it’s worth reviewing the key reasons cattle producers are utilising Ultravac® 7in1 to protect the workforce on their farms.
The human version of the disease leptospirosis (also known as Lepto), causes flu-like symptoms with a high proportion of people infected requiring hospitalisation. David Petersen caught the disease while calving a cow on a dairy farm near Finley, New South Wales. He spent several days in hospital, with a severe fever and headache. With the aid of a good doctor, who recognised the signs early and initiated antibiotics, he recovered quickly.
Unfortunately, the diagnosis of leptospirosis is not always achieved quickly so treatment can be delayed. This can be a reason that people report chronic flu-like symptoms for some time after infection.
The disease is contracted both by humans and cattle, through direct contact with infected urine, placental material or contaminated water. The bacteria enters the body through mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth or damaged skin.
Human infections can occur:
- while assisting during calving without proper protection
- from urine splashing from infected cows during milking or calving
- indirectly via contaminated water, food or soil
- by handling an aborted foetus or afterbirth
- through contact with floodwaters.
Leptospirosis affects both beef and dairy cattle. Cattle are a host to two common species of Leptospira, Leptospira borgpetesenii serovar Hardjo type Hardjobovis, referred to as Lepto hardjo or L.hardjo for short, and Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona, which is generally shortened to Lepto pomona.
The bacteria can live in the environment in moist conditions for months before infecting an animal. It can also survive for a long time in stagnant water and can spread over large areas in floodwaters. Once infected, cattle can subsequently shed Lepto in their urine. In the case of L. hardjo, cattle can shed lepto for periods greater than 12 months after their initial infection.
The consequences of infection in cattle are infertility, abortion and weak calves. Lepto can also cause a form of mastitis where cows show a sudden drop in milk production and high cell count, with any milk produced potentially going a yellow colour. This can happen in an individual cow or group of cows, often in the absence of other clinical signs.
Many people don't realise that different vaccines contain different species of Lepto hardjo, which cause different responses to the vaccine in cows.
Ultravac® 7in1 contains the two strains of Lepto hardjo and pomona which have been sourced locally and is manufactured in Australia.
The Australian Lepto hardjo strain used in Ultravac® 7in1 elicits a strong cell mediated immune response which is necessary to prevent infection of the kidneys of cows and subsequent urinary shedding. When used prior to natural exposure, Ultravac® 7in1 prevents urinary shedding of Leptospira, breaking the cycle of infection in cow herds and stopping the spread of new infections.
Ultravac® 7in1 can be given to calves from as early as four weeks of age and the vaccine works in the presence of maternal antibodies. Other vaccines only work to minimise shedding and can only be given to older calves after maternal antibodies have worn off, providing an opportunity for infection to occur. Given only a tiny number of bacteria are required to cause infection and disease in both cattle and humans, Ultravac® 7in1’s unique mode of action is the only way to stop new infections occurring and clear the disease out of the herd. By preventing urinary shedding of Lepto, you will also be providing a safe workplace for staff.
t’s essential to begin vaccination early in the animal's life. The graphic below shows the vaccine requirements of cattle.
graphic showing Ultravac 7in1 vaccine requirements in cattle
Ultravac® 7in1 also protects against the five key clostridial diseases affecting cattle in Australia – tetanus, blackleg, enterotoxaemia, malignant oedema and black disease.
Zoetis recommends Ultravac® 7in1 as the core vaccine for cattle. It’s simple to implement and highly effective.
Article written by Dr Matthew Petersen BVetBiol, BVSc is a Veterinary Operations Manager, Zoetis Australia for Seasons magazine.
Please note: this article contains information of a general nature, and does not take into account your personal objectives, situation or needs. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of the information provided, and seek advice on whether it is fit for your circumstances.
