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Leptospirosis - Cattle and Sheep (view source)
Revision as of 08:50, 9 September 2010
, 08:50, 9 September 2010no edit summary
* Icterus
* Icterus
* Haemoglobinuria
* Haemoglobinuria
* Changes in milk
Subacute form:
Subacute form:
* Pyrexia
* Pyrexia
* Flaccid udder
* Flaccid udder
* Changes in milk
* Abortion, still births or weak calves
* Abortion, still births or weak calves
===Pathology===
===Pathology===
In the acute form of the disease anaemia and icterus are usually obvious. On post mortem examination the kidneys are swollen and dark, with echymoses and petechecial haemorrhages. The liver may be pale, swollen and friable with areas of necrosis. Lesions may be seen in other organs depending on the serovar of ''Leptospira''.
==Treatment==
==Treatment==
Treatment in acute cases is supportive in conjunction with antibiotics. A blood transfusion may be necessary if haemolytic anaemia is severe in calves; oxytetracycline, tetracyclines, enrofloxacin and erythromycin may all be effective if administered early enough.
Treatment in acute cases is supportive in conjunction with antibiotics. A blood transfusion may be necessary if haemolytic anaemia severe in calves; oxytetracycline, tetracyclines, enrofloxacin and erythromycin may all be effective if administered early enough.
Chronic infections can also be treated with antibiotics; oxytetracycline, enrofloxacin and ampicillin are all effective.
Management of infected herds depends on whether it is a beef or dairy herd. It is worth vaccinating and treating all cattle with prophylactic antibiotics in a beef herd if leptospirosis is diagnosed in the early stage in order to protect the herd. In a dairy herd the milk withdrawal due to treatment with antibiotics makes this option uneconomical, and therefore treatment is usually limited to the affected animals.
Incactivated vaccines are of questionable efficacy
Incactivated vaccines are of questionable efficacy