Treatment and Prevention

Can leptospirosis be treated?

Leptospirosis is treated in both humans and animals with the appropriate antibiotics. Identification of carrier cows is difficult so that whole herd treatment would be the only way to eradicate leptospirosis from the herd using antibiotics.

In terms of economics, herd production, herd health and human health, prevention of infection is a more realistic approach.

How can I prevent leptospirosis?

There is no vaccination available for humans against leptospirosis. Therefore, it is doubly important to prevent infection in the herd.

A combined vaccine is available for cattle against Lepto Hardjo and Lepto Pomona. If a vaccination program is carried out, most previously susceptible animals will be rendered immune to the disease. These animals will not become symptomatic if exposed to the bacteria and will not become carriers.

Cows that are already carriers when the vaccination program is commenced will continue to shed bacteria until they develop a natural immunity to the disease. But vaccination decreases the number of leptospira shed in the urine.

In summary, the benefits of vaccination to human and herd health are:

  • The protection of calves from serious clinical leptospirosis.
  • The protection of cows from production limiting clinical leptospirosis.
  • The protection of the herd from reproductive losses caused by leptospirosis e.g abortion.
  • The protection of farming families by decreasing the number of carrier cows in the herd and the increasing number of leptospira they shed.
  • Visiting workers eg Milking staff, Vets, AI technicians etc.
Within 1-2 years of a continuing vaccination program, most carrier cows will become naturally immune and, with the prevention of new infections, leptospira will be virtually eliminated from the farm.

To prevent the re-introduction of lepto into your herd an on-going vaccination program for the herd is recommended.