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| − | ==Introduction==
| + | **Cattle and sheep |
| − | '''Leptospirosis''' is an economically significant zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria [[Leptospira|''Leptospira interrogans'']]. Disease in cattle is usually due to ''L.pomona'' or ''L.hardjo''; ''L. interrogans'' serovar ''hardjo'' is host-adapted to cattle, whereas ''L.pomona'' is non-host specific. Clinical disease is rarely seen in '''sheep'''; they are less susceptible to the bacterium but may act as '''non-symptomatic carriers'''.
| + | ***Cattle are maintenance hosts for ''L. borgpetersenii'' serovar ''hardjo'' |
| − | | + | ***''L. interrogans'' serovar ''hardjo'' is host-adapted to cattle |
| − | In '''cattle''' leptospirosis is seen in 3 forms, acute, subacute and chronic. The '''acute''' disease is seen most frequently in calves, causing pyrexia, haemoglobinuria, icterus, anorexia, uraemia due to renal damage and death. Acute disease in susceptible heifers is seen as fever, lethargy and agalactia of all quarters; abortion and stillbirth may also occur. The subacute form results in clinical signs similar to those of the acute disease, in a less severe form. The main signs of the chronic or enzootic form are infertility, especially in heifers, and abortions. An abortion storm is a common presentation of leptospirosis, with several cattle aborting at the same time, typically 4-12 weeks after the initial infection.
| + | ***Acute disease in susceptible heifers, with fever and agalactia of all quarters; abortion and stillbirth may occur |
| − | | + | ***Diagnosed by rising antibody titre in paired serum samples |
| − | In the rare cases affecting sheep, infection results in an acute syndrome in lambs, or abortion and agalactia in ewes.
| + | ***Infection in sheep may cause abortion and agalactia |
| − | | + | ***Urinary excretion can be reduced by administering dihydrostreptomycin or amoxycillin |
| − | ==Signalment==
| + | ***Incactivated vaccines are of questionable efficacy |
| − | Risk factors include access to rivers and watercourses, rodent infestation, buying in stock and using a bull instead of artificial insemination (AI). Co grazing sheep with cattle can result in disease in cattle as sheep can act as non-symptomatic carriers.
| + | ***Serovars ''pomona, grippotyphosa'' and ''icterohaemorrhagiae'' cause pyrexia, haemoglobinurea, jaundice, anorexia, uraemia due to renal damage and death in calves and lambs |
| − | | + | [[Category:Leptospiraceae]][[Category:Cattle]][[Category:Sheep]] |
| − | A high percentage of UK herds are infected with leptospirosis, it is estimated that 75% of UK cattle have been exposed to the disease.
| + | [[Category:To_Do_-_Bacteria]] |
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| − | ==Clinical Signs==
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| − | '''Acute syndrome''':
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| − | * Pyrexia
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| − | * Anorexia
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| − | * Dyspnoea
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| − | * Haemolytic anaemia
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| − | * Icterus
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| − | * Haemoglobinuria
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| − | * Changes in milk
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| − | '''Subacute form''':
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| − | * Lethargy | |
| − | * Pyrexia | |
| − | * Flaccid udder
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| − | * Changes in milk
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| − | * Abortion, still births or weak calves | |
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| − | '''Enzootic/chronic form''':
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| − | * Abortion
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| − | * Infertility
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| − | * Milk drop
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| − | ==Laboratory Tests==
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| − | Leptospirosis can be diagnosed by '''rising antibody titre''' in paired serum samples in the acute and subacute forms, however in the chronic form the initial infection may not be obvious and serology is not useful if the disease is enzootic in the herd.
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| − | '''Culture''' on special media and fluorescent antibody techniques on tissues can be used to demonstrate the causative organism.
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| − | In dairy herds, a '''bulk milk sample''' will give an indication of the disease status of the herd.
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| − | ==Pathology==
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| − | In the acute form of the disease anaemia and icterus are usually obvious. On post mortem examination the kidneys are swollen and dark, with ecchymoses 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''.
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| − | ==Treatment==
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| − | 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.
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| − | Chronic infections can also be treated with antibiotics; oxytetracycline, enrofloxacin and ampicillin are all effective.
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| − | 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.
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| − | Vaccination will reduce the incidence of the disease and improve fertility in the herd. The initial course is 2 doses 4-6 weeks apart; protection is maintained by yearly boosters.
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| − | ==Literature Search==
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| − | [[File:CABI logo.jpg|left|90px]]
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| − | Use these links to find recent scientific publications via CAB Abstracts (log in required unless accessing from a subscribing organisation).
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| − | <br><br><br>
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| − | [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?rowId=1&options1=AND&q1=title%3A%28leptospir*%29+AND+%28od%3A%28cattle%29+OR+od%3A%28sheep%29%29&occuring1=freetext&rowId=2&options2=AND&q2=&occuring2=freetext&rowId=3&options3=AND&q3=&occuring3=freetext&publishedstart=2000&publishedend=yyyy&calendarInput=yyyy-mm-dd&la=any&it=any&show=all&x=43&y=12 Leptospirosis in cattle and sheep publications since 2000]
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| − | [http://www.cabi.org/cabdirect/FullTextPDF/2005/20053177230.pdf ''' Leptospirosis in cattle: disease review and update.''' Bolin, C. A.; Eastern States Veterinary Association, Gainesville, USA, Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference. Large animal. Volume 19, Orlando, Florida, USA, 8-12 January, 2005, 2005, pp 1-3 - '''Full Text Article''']
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * Divers, T.J. and Peek, S.F. (2008) '''Rebhun's diseases of dairy cattle''' ''Elsevier Health Scieneces''
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| − | * Merck & Co (2008) '''The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition)''' ''Merial''
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| − | * Radostits, O.M, Arundel, J.H, and Gay, C.C. (2000) '''Veterinary Medicine: a textbook of the diseases of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses''' ''Elsevier Health Sciences''
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| − | {{review}}
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| − | [[Category:Reproductive Diseases - Cattle]][[Category:Urological Diseases - Cattle]][[Category:Reproductive Diseases - Sheep]][[Category:Zoonoses]] | |
| − | [[Category:Brian Aldridge reviewing]] | |