Current Status of Leptospirosis Immunization in Swine and Cattle

Abstract

SUMMARY Leptospirosis in swine and cattle is a disease caused by a variety of serotypes widely distributed throughout the United States. Both domestic animals and wildlife are reservoirs for the leptospiral serotypes. Serotypes isolated from cattle and swine are pomona, grippotyphosa, canicola, and icterohaemorrhagiae. In addition, Leptospira hardjo has been isolated from cattle. Though the prevalence of the serotypes varies, their distribution is widespread in the United States. Vaccination of cattle and swine with bacterins has been effective in controlling clinical signs of the disease. As the immune response is serotype specific, protection of an animal is dependent on use of bacterins containing serotypes prevalent in the area. Currently, L. pomona, L. canicola, and L. icterohaemorrhagiae vaccines are commercially available. Research with experimental L. hardjo and L. grippotyphosa bacterins indicates both bacterins are effective in controlling leptospirosis in cattle and swine.