The Leptavoid-H vaccination for leptospirosis (Lepto) from MSD Animal Health will be back in stock with vets from next week, an MSD representative has confirmed.
Lepto is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals, caused by the bacteria genus Leptospira.
The two most commonly found strains of Lepto in Ireland are Leptospira interrogans hardjo and Leptospira borgpetersenii hardjo.
Cattle usually contract the disease through contact with infected urine or products of an abortion.
There are also a number of other ways, such as having an open herd, sharing a bull or operating a mixed grazing system with cattle and sheep.
Leptavoid-H is a vaccine licensed to protect dairy and beef herds against both strains of leptospirosis found in Ireland and the UK.
When using the Leptavoid-H vaccination, MSD recommend that the primary course consists of two doses with an interval of at least four weeks.
Ideally the course should be completed pre-turnout the spring before the main season of transmission of Leptospira Hardjo.
Re-vaccination with a single dose should be given annually to maintain protection against infection and reduce exposure in the herd.
If the primary course is given later than the spring, the first booster should be given in the following spring and annually thereafter.
Lepto
Often the first potential sign of a Lepto infection within the herd is a drop in milk yield.
This can often be missed and put down to a number of other potential issues, such as changes in feed, lungworm, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) or infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR).
Reduced levels of fertility within the herd is also a common symptom seen in an infected herd.
In herds where there has been an increase in the number of abortions and other clinical symptoms, it is important that a screening is completed.
It is also important that any abortions are sent to the lab for testing to determine the cause.
To prevent an outbreak of Lepto from occurring within a herd a combination of biosecurity measures along with a vaccination programme is required.
Preventing the presence of the disease on your farm is important due to it being zoonotic.
Clinical signs in humans start as flu-like symptoms. If left untreated, Lepto can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress and even, death.
Generally, this happens after humans come in contact with infected urine, afterbirth or an aborted foetus.