Bovine Leptospirosis and Infertility

Abstract

Bovine leptospirosis was first identified as a disease of cattle in 1935 in Russia (Mikhin and Azhinov, 1935). Although bovine leptospirosis has been in the U.S. for many years, it was primarily associated with the pomona serovar (Baker and Little, 1948). Prevalence studies based on serolgic surveys indicate hardjo is the most widespread serovar with reactor rates varying from a low of 6% for the midwest to a high of 62% for Florida cattle (Stoenner, 1975; Rubin, 1977). Clinical signs of leptospirosis in cattle vary with the serovars involved, the herd susceptibility, and between acute and chronic infections.