Leptospirosis and how to avoid it

Appropriate preventative gear a must to stop infections of this disease

OPINION:

Leptospirosis is a bacteria that can infect animals and humans. There are a couple of different types of Lepto, but each of them can cause infection and disease in different species.

Lepto bacteria can be found in stagnant water, effluent contaminated soil or feed, and in carrier animals. After periods of flooding pasture can also become contaminated.

Cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and rodents can act as ‘carrier’ animals which means they are infected with the bacteria but don’t necessarily show signs of disease.

However, these carrier animals can pass on the infection to other animal species and humans. An infected animal that isn’t a carrier animal will usually get a fever which can lead to kidney and liver infection and abortion if the animal is pregnant.

In humans, leptospirosis can present as mild flu-like symptoms or more severely as kidney and liver disease.

Humans become infected by contact with urine, fetal membranes, or offal from infected animals.

The bacteria can penetrate through our intact mucous membranes such as the mouth or eyes or through cuts in the skin. Care should be taken when handling animals and protective equipment, such as gloves, should be worn.

Prevention of leptospirosis infection is multifactorial.

The bacteria spreads via shedding in the urine of the carrier hosts. At its most basic level, prevention is about minimising contact with animal urine including splashes, and urine contaminated water.

Practically this prevention looks like appropriate hygiene, fencing waterways, effluent management and vaccinating livestock.

Appropriate hygiene should include covering cuts and scratches, wearing gloves and washing hands after handling animals.

Waterways, including ponds and flooded paddocks, should be fenced so animals can’t contaminate the water with effluent.

Restricting access to standing water also prevents animals picking up new infections from already contaminated water. Controlling rodent populations can also help to prevent infections.

Vaccination against leptospirosis bacteria is another way to prevent infection.

In order to prevent infection, the vaccination needs to be given before the animal has a chance to be infected. For the species where this is impractical, vaccination can still be useful in reducing the quantity of bacteria that the carrier animal sheds.

This in turn prevents new infections in animals that are crossgrazing or in humans that are handling the animals. Dogs can also be vaccinated against leptospirosis.

Have a chat to your vet if you have questions or concerns about the risks of Lepto on your property and how to manage it.

Practically this prevention looks like appropriate hygiene, fencing waterways, effluent management and vaccinating livestock.