Leptospirosis - Pigs

Description

Leptospirosis is an infective disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira. There are a number of serovars of the bacteria which vary in their pathogenesis and host specificity. L.bratislava and L.pomona are both host adapted to swine and are the most common cause of clinical leptospirosis in pigs.

Signalment

Leptospirosis has a worldwide distribution; it is more prevalent in warm wet climates. The incidence of disease depends on the serovar involved.

Diagnosis

References

• • Pigs
    • The rodent-adapted serovars icterohaemorrhagica and copenhagenii cause acute disease in pigs
    • Severe disease in young pigs
    • Serovar pomona is the host-adapted species, and may be shed in the urine
    • Infections may cause abortions and stillbirths
    • Pigs are maintenance hosts for serovars tarassovi and bratislava, which may cause reproductive failure