Agriculture Victoria and Dairy Australia are working together to inform dairy producers of the risks from leptospirosis. They developed a biosecurity tool to assist dairy farmers create a farm biosecurity plan tailored to their farm.
An integrated approach to prevent leptospirosis should consider:
- vaccinating the whole herd (following directions on the vaccine label)
- developing and implementing a farm biosecurity plan; and
- considering the risk of introducing infection when bringing in stock and only purchasing animals with an animal health statement.
Source: The Bullvine, May 25, 2021. Link. Leptospirosis is recognized as a serious occupational health hazard for humans. The dairy is a key contact point, due to urine splashes and the close contact between dairy cows and dairy workers.
INSIGHTS: Producers in the U.S. have several options for vaccinating against lepto strains. Many leptospiral infections in cattle are subclinical, particularly in nonpregnant and nonlactating animals.
Bovine leptospirosis vaccines available in the USA and Canada are pentavalent and contain leptospiral serovars Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Hardjo. These vaccines provide good protection against disease caused by each of these serovars, with the possible exception of serovar Hardjo.