Prevalence of leptospirosis in farm animals

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by infection with pathogenic spirochetes that belong to the genus Leptospira. Leptospira spp. colonize the proximal renal tubules of various mammals and are excreted in the urine of carrier animals. Transmission of leptospirosis in humans and animals occurs by exposure to water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals or by direct contact with infected animals. Farm animals such as cattle and swine are not only infected as incidental hosts but also are maintenance hosts of specific Leptospira serovar strains and serve as reservoir animals for the same animal species and/or humans. Incidental host infections of cattle with serovars such as Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona cause acute, severe clinical disease.