This website provides brief data on the veterinary aspects of leptospirosis, however we are primarily a human health resource and so the information is not as detailed as for medical disease control – however many aspects of the infection and treatment are similar.
Leptospirosis in animals is a very widespread and important disease, both in terms of animal health and commercial agriculture. The costs of managing and controlling leptospirosis are large, and the implications for infected animals are severe. For this reason, vaccines have been developed for most susceptible livestock and domestic pet species, from dogs to cattle. Unlike in humans, the management of leptospirosis in domesticated animals is usually by preventative vaccination in early life. The advantage in this approach for animals is the strains of leptospira which infect each animal species are very specific, so vaccines for a small number of strains are highly effective.