Difference between revisions of "Leptospirosis - Cattle and Sheep"
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | Leptospirosis is an economically significant zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria [[Leptospira|''leptospira interrogans'']]. ''L. | + | 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. Clinical disease is rarely seen in sheep, they are less susceptible to the bacterium but may act as non-symptomatic carriers. |
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| + | In cattle leptospirosis is seen in 3 forms, acute, subacute and chronic. The acute disease is seen most frequently in calves, causing pyrexia, haemoglobinurea, jaundice, anorexia, uraemia due to renal damage and death. Acute disease in susceptible heifers, is seen as fever, lethargy, agalactia of all quarters; abortion and stillbirth may also occur. The subacute form results in clinical signs similar to those of the acute form, in a less severe form. The | ||
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| + | In the rare cases affecting sheep, infection results in an acute syndrome in lambs, or abortion and agalactia in ewes. | ||
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***Diagnosed by rising antibody titre in paired serum samples | ***Diagnosed by rising antibody titre in paired serum samples | ||
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***Urinary excretion can be reduced by administering dihydrostreptomycin or amoxycillin | ***Urinary excretion can be reduced by administering dihydrostreptomycin or amoxycillin | ||
***Incactivated vaccines are of questionable efficacy | ***Incactivated vaccines are of questionable efficacy | ||
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==Signalment== | ==Signalment== | ||
Revision as of 19:44, 8 September 2010
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This article is still under construction. |
Description
Leptospirosis is an economically significant zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria leptospira interrogans. Disease in cattle is usually due to L.pomona or L.hardjo;L. interrogans serovar hardjo is host-adapted to cattle. Clinical disease is rarely seen in sheep, they are less susceptible to the bacterium but may act as non-symptomatic carriers.
In cattle leptospirosis is seen in 3 forms, acute, subacute and chronic. The acute disease is seen most frequently in calves, causing pyrexia, haemoglobinurea, jaundice, anorexia, uraemia due to renal damage and death. Acute disease in susceptible heifers, is seen as fever, lethargy, agalactia of all quarters; abortion and stillbirth may also occur. The subacute form results in clinical signs similar to those of the acute form, in a less severe form. The
In the rare cases affecting sheep, infection results in an acute syndrome in lambs, or abortion and agalactia in ewes.
- Diagnosed by rising antibody titre in paired serum samples
- Urinary excretion can be reduced by administering dihydrostreptomycin or amoxycillin
- Incactivated vaccines are of questionable efficacy
Signalment
Risk factors include access to rivers and watercourses, rodent infestation, buying in stock and using a bull instead of AI. Cograzing sheep with cattle can result in disease in cattle as sheep can act as non-symptomatic carriers.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
Acute syndrome:
- Pyrexia
- Anorexia
- Dyspnoea
- Hymolytic anaemia
- Icterus
- Haemoglobinuria
Enzootic/chronic form:
- Abortion
- Infertility
- Milk drop