the use of a hardjo-pomona vaccine to prevent leptospiruria in cattle exposed to natural challenge with leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo

The efficacy of the hardjo component of a hardjo-pomona vaccine was evaluated in yearling heifers under conditions of natural challenge in a commercial dairy herd when endemic hardjo infection was present. Eight heifers received 2 doses of vaccine 4 weeks apart and were run with 10 unvaccinated heifers for a period of 56 weeks. Results from the culture of urinesamples showed that the vaccine either prevented leptospiruria to a significant degree (P<0.05) or, if it developed, greatly shortened its duration (P<0.01). Leptospires were cultured on an average of 5 occasions (range 3 to 8) from each of the infected controls and on only one occasion each from 2 of the vaccinates. Fifty one to 56 weeks after commencement of the trial, 9 of the unvaccinated animals were excreting leptospires while none of the vaccinates were leptospiruric at that time.

It is concluded that an appropriate vaccination programme could prevent the maintenance of hardjo infection in the herd.     

Protection of cattle against natural challenge with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo using a hardjo-pomona vaccine

The hardjo component of a bivalent hardjo/pomona vaccine prepared from cultures grown in a protein-free medium was tested in calves which experienced a natural challenge about 7 months after vaccination. A significant degree of protection was obtained using either seroconversion or positive urine cultures as in-dicators of infection. Seroconversion occurred in 10/10 non-vaccinates and 2/9 vaccinates (p <0.01), Leptospires of serovar hardjo were isolated from the urine of 6/10 non-vaccinated calves and 0/9 vaccinated animals (p <0.05).     

The efficacy of a Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona and copenhageni and L. borgpetersenii serovar hardjo vaccine in cattle

An experimental, trivalent, bovine, leptospiral vaccine, containing inactivated Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona and copenhageni and L. borgpetersenii serovar hardjo Hardjobovis, was developed. The experimental vaccine was shown to protect hamsters against virulent challenge with each of the component serovars. In a serological efficacy test in cattle, the experimental vaccine was compared for bioequivalence with a similar product, registered in New Zealand for veterinary use. The experimental vaccine induced higher titres in cattle than the latter mentioned product.     

Restriction endonuclease analysis of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo isolates from cattle

The genomes of 253 strains of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis of their DNA. The strains had been isolated from cattle at an abattoir (190), milk of agalactic cows (seven) and from aborted bovine fetuses (56). Two distinct genome types, Hardjoprajitno and Hardjobovis, were detected. The majority (91 per cent) of isolates from abattoir cattle were of the Hardjobovis type while most (76 per cent) of the isolates from clinical/pathological material were similar to Hardjoprajitno.     

Antimicrobial drug susceptibility of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo isolated from cattle.

The susceptibility to commonly used drugs of 18 isolates of Leptospira hardjo from the kidneys of feedlot cattle from different sources was determined quantitatively. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin G, ampicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin and streptomycin. Susceptibility to sulphamethazine was ambiguous. No drug resistance was detected and the results were similar to those described for other serovars.     

Effect of vaccination with a pentavalent leptospiral vaccine on Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis infection of pregnant cattle

Effectiveness of a pentavalent leptospiral vaccine to protect cattle from infection and reproductive problems caused by Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis was evaluated. Seven cows were vaccinated once and 8 cows were vaccinated twice with a USDA-licensed pentavalent leptospiral vaccine. Five cows were maintained as nonvaccinated controls. Cows were bred 1 to 2 months after the last vaccination. During the 4th to 6th month of gestation, all cows were challenge exposed on 4 occasions by conjunctival instillation of 10(8) serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis organisms and on 3 occasions by conjunctival instillation of urine from a cow shedding hardjo-bovis. All control cows and 13 of 15 vaccinated cows became infected and shed leptospires in the urine. Leptospires were detected in fewer urine samples collected from vaccinated cows, compared with those collected from control cows. Four stillborn calves and 3 weak calves were born to control and vaccinated cows. Leptospires were detected in the kidneys of 11 apparently healthy calves born to vaccinated and control cows. Agglutinating antibodies were not detected in the precolostral serum of these calves.     

Effect of vaccination with a monovalent Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis vaccine on type hardjo-bovis infection of cattle.

Effectiveness of 2 concentrations of a monovalent vaccine containing Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis was evaluated for protection of heifers from infection with type hardjo-bovis. Nine heifers were given 2 doses of low-dose vaccine (8.32 x 10(8) cells/dose); 9 heifers were given 2 doses of high-dose vaccine (8.32 x 10(9) cells/dose); and 1 steer and 1 heifer were maintained as nonvaccinated controls. Groups of vaccinated cattle were challenge-exposed with serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis at 7 (n = 6), 11 (n = 6), or 15 (n = 6) weeks after completion of vaccination. All cattle were challenge-exposed by conjunctival instillation of 1 x 10(5) hardjo-bovis cells on 3 consecutive days. Both control and all vaccinated cattle became infected and shed serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis in their urine. Leptospires were detected in 15 of 16 (94%) urine samples from control cattle and in 124 of 143 (87%) samples from vaccinated cattle. Leptospires were detected in kidneys of 17 of 18 vaccinated cattle and 2 of 2 control cattle and in the uterus or oviducts of 13 of 18 vaccinates and the 1 control heifer.     

Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo associated with bovine abortion in South Africa

Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo was isolated from urine from dairy cattle in the Onderstepoort area. This was the first successful isolation of this serovar as sole agent causing an abortion storm in the Republic of South Africa. Abortions occurred as early as at 4 months' gestation.     

Effect of vaccination with a pentavalent leptospiral vaccine containing Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis on type hardjo-bovis infection of cattle

Effectiveness of 2 pentavalent leptospiral vaccines containing Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo was evaluated for protection of steers from infection with serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis. The hardjo component of 1 vaccine was prepared from serovar hardjo type hardjoprajitno. The hardjo component of the other vaccine was prepared from serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis. Two steers were vaccinated once and 4 steers were vaccinated twice with the pentavalent vaccine containing type hardjoprajitno. Four steers were vaccinated once and 4 steers were vaccinated twice with the pentavalent vaccine containing type hardjo-bovis. Four steers were maintained as non-vaccinated controls. Steers given vaccine containing type hardjo-bovis developed higher mean serum microscopic agglutination titers against serovar hardjo than steers given vaccine containing hardjoprajitno. Six months after the first vaccination, all steers were challenge-exposed on 3 occasions by conjunctival instillation of 10(7) serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis organisms, and on 1 occasion by conjunctival instillation of urine from a steer shedding hardjo-bovis. All control and all vaccinated steers became infected and shed serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis in the urine. Lesions were detected in kidneys of 3 of 4 nonvaccinated control steers, 5 of 6 steers given hardjoprajitno vaccine, and 6 of 8 steers given hardjo-bovis vaccine. Leptospires were detected in kidneys of 4 of 4 control steers and 13 of 14 vaccinated steers.     

Prevalence of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo in the genital and urinary tracts of non-pregnant cattle

In a bacteriological investigation of 60 cows and heifers from an abattoir Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo was isolated from 39 (65 per cent) animals. The genital tract (57 per cent) appeared to be as important a site of hardjo localisation as the urinary tract (62 per cent). This is believed to be the first report of genital hardjo infection in naturally infected cattle.     

Restriction-endonuclease analysis of Australian isolates of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo from cattle with agalactia and abortion

SUMMARY Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to resolve restriction endonuclease digests of 20 Australian isolates of Leptospira interrogans cultured from urine samples of cattle with agalactia and abortion. The restriction endonuclease profiles of 19 isolates closely matched the profiles of L interrogans serovar hardjo subtype hardjobovis reference strains. The remaining isolate had a different restriction profile from subtype hardjobovis and subtype hardjoprajitno reference strains and was serologically identified as serovar pomona. Silver staining of polyacrylamide gels gave enhanced resolution of restriction fragments compared with the traditional method of ethidium bromide staining of agarose gels.     

Seroprevalence to Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo in Merino stud rams in South Australia

Summary A serological survey of 2160 Merino stud rams on 36 farms detected positive reactions greater than or equal to 1/100 in 42% of animals using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) to Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo. Twenty flocks had seroprevalence values greater than 30% with 15 flocks having values 60%. The enzymelinked immunosorbent assays showed that 47% and 3% of rams on the 36 farms were positive for IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Forty-five percent of hardjo reactions were in rams that had not been exposed to cattle. Significant correlations were found between IgM reactors and creek/dam water pumped into troughs, and between MAT/IgG reactors and total flock size. No statistical relationships were detected between positive reactors and two different annual average rainfall gradients, the time of the year in which samples were obtained, or agricultural regions of South Australia. Infections with an organism of the Sejroe serogroup is widespread in Merino stud rams.     

Use of a monovalent leptospiral vaccine to prevent renal colonization and urinary shedding in cattle exposed to Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a monovalent Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo (type hardjobovis) vaccine commercially available in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom would protect cattle from renal colonization and urinary shedding when exposed to a US strain of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo. ANIMALS: 24 Hereford heifers that lacked detectable antibodies against serovar hardjo. PROCEDURE: Heifers received 2 doses, 4 weeks apart, of the commercial hardjo vaccine (n = 8) or a monovalent US reference hardjo vaccine (8) or were not vaccinated (controls; 8). Heifers were challenged 16 weeks later by intraperitoneal inoculation or conjunctival instillation. Serum antibody titers were measured weekly, and urine samples were examined for leptospires. Heifers were euthanatized 11 to 14 weeks after challenge, and kidney tissue was examined for evidence of colonization. RESULTS: All 8 heifers vaccinated with the reference vaccine were found to be shedding leptospires in their urine and had evidence of renal colonization. All 4 control heifers challenged by conjunctival instillation and 2 of 4 control heifers challenged by intraperitoneal inoculation shed leptospires in their urine, and all 8 had evidence of renal colonization. In contrast, leptospires were not detected in the urine or tissues of any of the 8 heifers that received the commercial hardjo vaccine. Heifers that received the commercial hardjo vaccine had significantly higher antibody titers than did heifers that received the reference vaccine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that cattle that received 2 doses of the commercial hardjo vaccine were protected against renal colonization and urinary shedding when challenged with L borgpetersenii serovar hardjo strain 203 four months after vaccination.