This month we end our series on immunology and the use of vaccines by continuing the discussion of specific disease with vaccines available. Leptospirosis This bacterial disease causes pregnancy wastage primarily in the last trimester.
Leptospiral organisms cause infection in the kidneys and are excreted in urine.
Leptospires survive in wet environments for up to 30 days. Infection of susceptible cattle occurs through mucous membranes and abraded or water-softened skin, or by sexual contact. There are more than 180 serovars of leptospira. Each serovar is adapted to a particular species of animal which it uses as a maintenance host. In the United States, serovar hardjo has a maintenance host relationship with cattle.