Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona infection and leptospiruria in vaccinated pigs

Authors: Stocker RP, Hodges RT, Buddle JR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 24, Issue 3, pp 37-39, Mar 1976
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
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: Abortions, stillbirths, and high neonatal mortality are the clinical features and reasons for the economic importance of Leptospira serotype pomona infection in pigs. In most cases, however, obvious clinical signs are not observed (Huhn, 1972). There is a large volume of evidence that commercial anti-leptospiral vaccines are generally successful in preventing clinical signs of disease. Evidence also exists that some vaccines may, in addition, prevent renal infection and leptospiruria (Stalheim, 1968a,b). In New Zealand vaccines are widely used in pigs for preventing losses associated with pomona infection, but there is little published information concerning their efficacy in preventing infection and leptospiruria. In an investigation of the epidemiology of asymptomatic pomona infection in groups of bacon pigs, it was found that 90 to 100% of these pigs became infected during the 8 to 10 weeks they were housed in particular pens in a building used for the final fattening process (Hodges and Buddle, unpublished). This paper records the results obtained when two commercial vaccines were used in attempts to prevent infection.

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