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 RCB’s) • 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.***