Leptospirosis, or lepto as it is commonly known, is a bacterial infection that colonises in the kidneys and genital tract of its host. Leptospires can be shed from these organs into the urine for more than 12 months, consequently releasing more bacteria into the environment.
Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo type Hardjobovis (L. Hardjo) and Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona (L. Pomona) are the most common types of bacteria causing leptospirosis in Australian beef and dairy cattle.
L. Hardjo may affect cattle of all ages, but clinical signs are uncommon and are usually only seen in pregnant or lactating cows. This means that most cattle show no obvious signs of infection to L. Hardjo but may be shedding the bacteria and therefore be infectious to other animals or humans. Infection has been reported to cause abortion, usually from four-months of gestation to term and the birth of weak or stillborn calves. Sudden drop in milk production, fever, infertility and mastitis are also clinical signs of infection. Infection with L. Pomona can cause acute septicaemia in calves, which may result in high mortalities. “Red water”, anaemia and jaundice may also occur, and adult cows may abort.
Humans are not imune
Humans can contract leptospirosis from infected animals. In human, the disease causes a flu-like illness that ranges from mild to severe, and it is common for those with lepto to be sick for weeks or even months. The main source of exposure is through direct contact with infected urine, for example during milking, artificial insemination, or when yarding and loading cattle. Assisting a cow calving may also pose a risk as foetal fluids and placental material may be contaminated.
In a recent study conducted in Victoria1, cattle from 53 herds were sampled for leptospirosis, and the farmers were interviewed about their leptospirosis vaccination protocol. Of those herds 69 per cent were non-compliant, meaning they were only vaccinating part of the herd and/or not following the label directions with respect to giving the correct number of doses at the correct time. In 8 per cent of all herds there were cows that tested positive for lepto, and all the herds which were lepto-positive were non-compliant or partly vaccinated herds. None of the fully vaccinated and compliant herds were positive for leptospirosis. This suggests that both cattle and staff on non-compliant farms may be at risk of contracting leptospirosis.
Introducing Ultravac 7-in-1
Using Ultravac 7-in-1 from Zoetis according to label directions will ensure that the risk for both cattle and humans is minimised. Ultravac 7-in-1 offers some key advantages:
- It will prevent shedding of lepto in urine and from the reproductive tract when used prior to natural exposure.
- It will prevent infection of the reproductive tract, placenta and foetus.
- If given to calves at 6 and 12 weeks of age, it will minimise the risk of lepto entering the herd, and the calves will be covered for a full 12-month period.
Ultravac 7-in-1 from Zoetis is the only lepto and clostridial combination vaccine that provides these advantages ensuring that the disease risk is minimised for both cattle and the people that work with them.
| Advantage | Ultravac 7-in-1 | Other 7-in-1 vaccines |
|---|---|---|
| Prevents shedding in urine and from the reproductive tract when used prior to natural exposure. | YES | No claim |
| Prevents reproductive tract colonisation* | YES | No claim |
| Prevents placental and foetal infection* | YES | No claim |
| Calves can be vaccinated from 4 weeks# | YES | 4 to 6 months |
| Low volume 2.5mL dose | YES | 4ml |
| Can be used for up to 30 days after opening** | YES | 24 hours |
References:
1. Erregger, E. et al. The prevalence of Leptospira borgpetersenii sv Hardjo and Leptospira interrogans sv Pomona in Victorian dairy herds. World Buiatrics Congress, Sapporo, 2018.
*Caused by Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo.
**Provided storage instructions are followed. Refer to product label for registered label claims.
#The vaccination of calves can begin from 4 weeks of age and is recommended for high- risk properties. When the initial two doses are completed before 3 months of age, an additional dose should be given 6 months later and then annually.
This article was written by Zoetis for Seasons magazine.
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