Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona infection in pigs: prevention of leptospiruria by immunisation before exposure to a natural infection

Authors: Hodges RT
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 25, Issue 1-2, pp 33-35, Jan 1977
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

---

Abstract: Fourteen of 24 pigs were immunised with repeated injections of killed cultures of Leptospira serotype pomona administered over a three-week period. The remaining 10 pigs served as controls. Five days after immunisation all pigs were exposed to the same natural infection by being housed together for 12 weeks in a pen which received effluent from other pens containing infected pigs. Neither leptospiruria nor kidney lesions were detected in any of the immunised pigs. In contrast, leptospiruria and kidney lesions occurred in all the controls. The development of serum agglutinins after immunisation and before exposure suggested that this could be used as an index of adequate antigenic stimulation.

---