What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by spirochetes belonging to Leptospira spp. The bacteria can affect many mammals, including wildlife, cattle, dogs, horses and even humans. Equine leptospirosis is a costly and underdiagnosed disease that can affect the entire equine industry. A recent nationwide study showed 75% of healthy horses were exposed to at least one leptospiral serovar.

What causes Leptospirosis?

Horses often become infected when exposed to:

• Contaminated soil, bedding, feed and drinking water^1,2
• Standing or slow-moving water^3,4
• Wildlife such as skunks, white-tailed deer, raccoons and opossums
• Aborted or stillborn fetuses or vaginal discharges^1,4

Infected animals can shed the bacteria in their urine.^1,4 The Leptospira bacteria can survive for weeks in warm, moist environments.^4,5

What effects does Leptospirosis have on horses?

• Leptospira bacteria are a leading cause of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU).³ It’s estimated that up to 70% of all uveitis cases are associated with leptospires.^5,6 There is no cure for ERU.
• Leptospires can cause late-term abortion in mares. A study showed that 13% of bacterial abortions are caused by L. pomona, the most common leptospiral serovar associated with clinical disease in horses.³
• Leptospiral infection can lead to acute renal failure when leptospires colonize in kidneys, causing the horse to become septicemic.*

How can I help prevent Leptospirosis?

LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR® is the first and only equine vaccine to help prevent leptospirosis caused by L. pomona and is USDA-licensed for use in pregnant mares. In intensive safety and efficacy trials, LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR was shown to provide a safe and effective immune response.

• Vaccinated horses showed 0% urinary shedding when challenged with L. pomona.⁷
• Field studies showed 99.9% of vaccinated horses were reaction-free with no significant adverse events.^8-10
• Field safety studies examined LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR when used in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy and showed no systemic or local reactions were attributed to vaccination.^8,9

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR, VISIT

LEPTOEQINNOVATOR.COM.

*Currently, there are no vaccines available with USDA-licensed label claims against equine abortions, uveitis or acute renal failure due to L. pomona.

¹ Spickler AR, Leedom Larson KR. Leptospirosis. http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/factsheets.php. Published August 2013. Accessed September 1, 2016.

² Thomas H. Leptospirosis in horses. Equine Chronicle. January/February 2015. http://www.equinechronicle.com/leptospirosis-in-horses. Accessed September 1, 2016.

³ Divers TJ, Chang Y-F. Leptospirosis. In: Robinson NE, Sprayberry KA, eds. Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. Vol 6. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Saunders Elsevier, 2009:145-147.

⁴ Levett PN. Leptospirosis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2001;14(2):296-326.

⁵ Polle F, Storey E, Eades S, et al. Role of intraocular Leptospira infections in the pathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis in the southern United States. J Equine Vet Sci. 2014;34(11-12):1300-1306.

⁶ Borstel MV, Oey L, Strutzberg-Minder K, Boeve MH, Ohnesorge B. Direkter und indirekter Nachweis von Leptospiren aus Glasköperproben von Pferden mit ERU. Pferdeheilkunde. 2010;2(März/April):219-225.

⁷ Data on file, Study Report No. B850R-US-12-011, Zoetis Inc.

⁸ Data on file, Study Report No. B951R-US-15-092, Zoetis Inc.

⁹ Data on file, Study Report No. B951R-US-13-046, Zoetis Inc.

¹⁰ Data on file, Study Report No. B951R-US-13-043, Zoetis Inc.

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