Leptospirosis

This technical manual provides a comprehensive overview of swine leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease with significant economic and health implications for the livestock industry. The text details the etiology and epidemiology of the disease, with specific focus on the roles of maintenance and accidental hosts. It offers practical guidance on identifying clinical presentations, ranging from acute infections to chronic reproductive issues like infertility and piglet mortality. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to diagnostic protocols, including the selection of appropriate samples and the interpretation of laboratory test results. The author also outlines effective control strategies, encompassing antibiotic metaphylaxis, vaccination programs, and health-hygiene prophylaxis to mitigate the impact of the disease on farm productivity.

1. Etiology; 2. Epidemiology (Geographical distribution, Prevalence, Sources of infection, transmission and risk factors, Health implications); 3. Pathogenesis, clinical presentation and lesions (Pathogenesis, Clinical presentation, Acute leptospirosis, Chronic leptospirosis, Lesions, Financial impact); 4. Diagnosis (When should leptospirosis be suspected?, Samples sent to the laboratory, Selection of animals to be tested and suitable samples, Sending the samples, Laboratory diagnostic methods, Objective of diagnosis, Diagnosis of acute leptospirosis, Diagnosis of abortions, stillbirths, and non-viable piglets at birth, Diagnosis of infertility, Interpreting the results); 5. Treatment and control (Treatment, Control, Health–hygiene prophylaxis, Antibiotic metaphylaxis, Vaccination); 6. References