Herd prevalence and risk factors of Leptospira infection in beef cow/calf operations in the United States

Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Hardjo

Authors

  • Steven, E. Wikse Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475
  • Glenn M. Rogers Beef Veterinary Operations, Pfizer Animal Health, Aledo, TX 76008
  • Satheesh Ramachandran Knowledge Based Systems Incorporated, 1408 University Dr E, College Station, TX 77840
  • Terry J. Engelken Department of Pathobiology-Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
  • William B. Epperson Department of Veterinary Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007-1396
  • Robert L. Larson Veterinary Medicine Extension, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
  • John Maas Veterinary Medicine Extension I Public Programs, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • Ed Richey Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136
  • Carole Bolin Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Meilicine, Lansing, MI 48910

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol41no1p15-23

Keywords:

bovine, beef, hardjo-bovis, leptospirosis, antibodies, bacterial diseases, beef cows, calves, cows, disease prevalence, epidemiology, infections, risk factors, serovars

Abstract

The herd prevalence of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo infection and associated risk factors were determined for beef cow/calf operations in California, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota and Texas, USA. Three veterinary practitioners randomly selected in each state completed a questionnaire on herd management practices, and collected blood and urine from 10 to 15 cows in four randomly selected herds. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against Leptospira borgpetersenii serovars grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona using the microscopic agglutination test. Urine sediments were stained with a non-serovar specific fluorescein-labeled anti-Leptospira antibody conjugate. Herd infection with L. borgpetersenii serovar hardjo was inferred if one or more cows had leptospires in their urine accompanied by either high antibody titres to the organism, or low titres to it and low titres against L. borgpetersenii serovars grippotyphosa, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona. 28 (42%) of the 67 herds had results compatible with infection with L. borgpetersenii serovar hardjo. Herds in South Dakota had a significantly lower prevalence than herds in other states (P=0.01). A greater likelihood of infection with L. borgpetersenii serovar hardjo was found in herds with higher mean annual temperatures (P=0.02) and longer breeding seasons (P=0.02). It is recommended that altering risk factors that predispose herds to infection, such as shortening length of breeding season will increase the effectiveness of programmes to control this disease.

Author Biographies

  • Terry J. Engelken, Department of Pathobiology-Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762

    Dr. Engelken's current address: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of
    Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011

  • William B. Epperson, Department of Veterinary Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007-1396

    Dr. Epperson's current address: Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210

  • Robert L. Larson, Veterinary Medicine Extension, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211

    Dr. Larson's current address: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State
    University, Manhattan, KS 66502

  • Ed Richey, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136

    Dr. Richey's current address: 2423 NW 106 Drive, Gainesville, FL 32606

Cover image of Volume 41, No. 1 of the Bovine Practitioner: a photo of a calf standing behind a cow, peeking out from underneath her tail. Cattle are a burnished copper-gold color, possibly Limousin.

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Published

2007-03-01

Issue

Vol. 41, No. 1 (2007 Spring)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Herd prevalence and risk factors of Leptospira infection in beef cow/calf operations in the United States: Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Hardjo. (2007). The Bovine Practitioner, 41(1), 15-23. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol41no1p15-23

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