Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Leptospirosis

The disease in brief

An acute and subacute jaundice form is included here; the mammary and abortive form due to Leptospira hardjo is treated separately. The jaundice form is mainly due to L. pomona. Inapparent infection and carriage of L. pomona are shared by many wild animals that can be a source of infection for cattle.

Clinic & diagnosis

The disease will be suspected in the presence of frank jaundice or subicterus accompanied by:

-Fever or brown urine the color of coffee-port wine.

- Signs of photosensitization on areas with white or light fur, or hairless areas of the teats, muzzle: Bristly hair all over the white or light area, red, or burnt or cardboard and gray skin. Photosensitization can cause a cattle to become agitated, show signs mimicking colic, with heat or pain when palpating the diseased area (or pressure on the hoof).

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

-Babesiosis UR14

-Erythrocyte Anaplasmosis UR15.2

-Poisoning by cabbage, onions, garlic N24

-Puerperal hemoglobinuria UR10

Confirm a suspicion?

-In the acute phase, isolating leptopspires from the blood is difficult and requires a suitable transport medium.

-In the acute phase and 8-10 days later: Serology, when possible, is easier to perform: On serum, or aqueous humor.

Prognosis and treatment

Early treatment is essential with streptomycin 1.2g/100kg, twice daily for 3 days or with tetracycline

Prevention

Protecting cattle from L. pomona infection, which is widely shared by many animals, is not easy: Avoid wetlands, de-rat livestock.

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 357