Alternative strategies for the control of leptospirosis in dairy herds

Abstract

Extract

Sir, — Human leptospirosis is still a major problem in New Zealand and more than 400 human cases are usually notified each year and the majority of such cases are dairy farmers ⁽¹⁾ . Approximately two thirds of these cases are associated with serovar hardjo and one third with serovar pomona. It is well established that cattle are the maintenance hosts for hardjo ⁽⁵⁾ and although pigs are the maintenance hosts for pomona ⁽²⁾ this serovar frequently causes sporadic outbreaks of disease in cattle and is a common cause of bovine abortion and calf mortality ⁽⁶⁾ .