The use of a hardjo-pomona vaccine to prevent leptospiruria in cattle exposed to natural challenge with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo

Authors: Marshall RB, Mackintosh CG, Broughton ES
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 28, Issue 9, pp 174-177, Sep 1980
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Bacterial, Immune system/immunology, Zoonosis, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Vaccination, Public health
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: The efficacy of the hardjo component of a hardjo-pomona vaccine was evaluated in yearling heifers under conditions of natural challenge in a commercial dairy herd when endemic hardjo infection was present. Eight heifers received 2 doses of vaccine 4 weeks apart and were run with 10 unvaccinated heifers for a period of 56 weeks. Results from the culture of urine samples showed that the vaccine either prevented leptospiruria to a significant degree (P<0.05) or, if it developed, greatly shortened its duration (P<0.01). Leptospires were cultured on an average of 5 occasions (range 3 to 8) from each of the infected controls and on only one occasion each from 2 of the vaccinates. Fifty one to 56 weeks after commencement of the trial, 9 of the unvaccinated animals were excreting leptospires while none of the vaccinates were leptospiruric at that time. It is concluded that an appropriate vaccination programme could prevent the maintenance of hardjo infection in the herd.

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