Release of Leptospirosis Vaccine
November 10, 2015
Zooetis announced the introduction of LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR, the first and only vaccine licensed for use in horses, six months of age or older, to aid in the prevention of leptospirosis caused by Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona, known as L. Pomona.
A recent study supported by Zooetis showed 75% of healthy horses have been exposed to at least one leptospiral serovar. As clinical signs associated with leptospirosis are non-specific, disease in horses likely occurs more frequently than is diagnosed, and exposure to Leptospira may be more prevalent than was previously understood.
What is equine Leptosporosis? Equine leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by spirochetes belonging to Leptospira species. Leptospira inerrogans serovar Pomona, known as L. Pomona, is the serovar most often associated with leptospirosis infections in the horses in North America. L. Pomona can colonize in the kidneys, be shed in the urine and cause horses to become septicemic. The bacteria is circulated in the blood and can cause uveitis, or moon blindness( the most common cause of moon blindness in horses), as well as abortions and kidney failure. Horses can become infected with leptospires from standing or slow-moving water contaminated by Leptospira-infected urine, contaminated soil, bedding, feed and drinking water as well as urine from infected cattle or dogs.
Common maintenance hosts-including skunks, raccoons, white-tailed deer and opossums-can become infected with L. Pomona, which can be shed into shared environments and infect horses. After penetrating through mucous membranes or skin abrasions, leptospires can concentrate in the kidneys and can cause devastating clinical disease.
A recent study supported by Zooetis showed 75% of healthy horses have been exposed to at least one leptospiral serovar. As clinical signs associated with leptospirosis are non-specific, disease in horses likely occurs more frequently than is diagnosed, and exposure to Leptospira may be more prevalent than was previously understood.
What is equine Leptosporosis? Equine leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by spirochetes belonging to Leptospira species. Leptospira inerrogans serovar Pomona, known as L. Pomona, is the serovar most often associated with leptospirosis infections in the horses in North America. L. Pomona can colonize in the kidneys, be shed in the urine and cause horses to become septicemic. The bacteria is circulated in the blood and can cause uveitis, or moon blindness( the most common cause of moon blindness in horses), as well as abortions and kidney failure. Horses can become infected with leptospires from standing or slow-moving water contaminated by Leptospira-infected urine, contaminated soil, bedding, feed and drinking water as well as urine from infected cattle or dogs.
Common maintenance hosts-including skunks, raccoons, white-tailed deer and opossums-can become infected with L. Pomona, which can be shed into shared environments and infect horses. After penetrating through mucous membranes or skin abrasions, leptospires can concentrate in the kidneys and can cause devastating clinical disease.
