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Pests and Diseases

Leptospirosis

Bacterial Diseases of Livestock

A bacterial disease, caused by pathogenic Leptospira species, that infects cattle, pigs and many other mammals, causing fever, abortion, reduced milk yield and kidney damage, spread through contact with the urine of infected animals or contaminated water. It is a particular problem in dairy cattle, where infection can trigger abortion storms and a sudden drop in milk production across a herd, and vaccination targeting the locally circulating serovars is a standard part of herd health management in many cattle-producing regions.

Facts
Classification
Agent Kind
Bacterium 1
Connections

Associated With

Cattle, Livestock

Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic bacterial disease causing abortion and reduced milk yield in cattle herds.

Sources
1. Leptospirosis (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Opening definition paragraph
    Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira that can infect humans, dogs, rodents, and many other wild and domesticated animals. Signs and symptoms can range from none to mild to severe. Weil's disease, the acute, severe form of leptospirosis, causes the infected individual to become jaundiced, develop kidney failure, and bleed. Bleeding from the lungs associated with leptospirosis is known as severe pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome.
  • lead description
    A bacterial disease, caused by pathogenic Leptospira species, that infects cattle, pigs and many other mammals, causing fever, abortion, reduced milk yield and kidney damage, spread through contact with the urine of infected animals or contaminated water.
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