Newsdate: Wed 11 November 2015 – 06:45 am
Location: FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey

Equine leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by spirochetes belonging to Leptospira species. Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona, known as L. pomona, is the serovar most often associated with leptospirosis infections in horses in North America.⁴

Protecting horses from leptospirosis

LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR helps protect horses from leptospirosis an infectious bacterial disease caused by L. pomona, corkscrew shaped spirochetes.

L. pomona can colonize in the kidneys, be shed in the urine and cause horses to become septicemic.¹The bacteria is circulated in the blood and can cause uveitis, or moon blindness (the most common cause of 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.^4,5

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.

Now, Zoetis has 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 Zoetis showed 75% of healthy horses have been exposed to at least one leptospiral serovar.¹ 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.

“Until this vaccine, preventive options against leptospirosis have been limited in horses,” said Jacquelin Boggs, DVM, MS, ACVIM, senior veterinarian, Equine Technical Services at Zoetis. “Leptospirosis is a disease that can cause devastating health risks to horses and can require costly treatment.

In response to the equine industry’s requests for a vaccine, Zoetis developed LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR to better equip veterinarians with the tools they need to help ensure the health and well-being of their horses.”

The addition of LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR enriches the broad portfolio of core and risk-based equine vaccines from Zoetis. LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR was shown to be clinically safe for use in foals three months of age or older and healthy pregnant mares in the second trimester.^2,3

The vaccine has been field tested in more than 1,800 horses.^2,3 In field safety studies with the administration of 1,808 vaccine doses, 99.8% of the horses remained reaction-free.^2,3 A reaction rate of 0.002% demonstrates the vaccine’s safety.^2,

LEPTO EQ INNOVATOR is currently available and as with any Zoetis product, is supported by credible research and superior support. For more information please contact your Zoetis representative or visit www.LEPTOEQUINNOVATOR.COM to access a free, online Leptospirosis Risk Assessment. For each completed risk assessment, Zoetis will donate $1.00 USD, up to $1,000, to A Home for Every Horse, an organization that works with rescue horses to connect them with loving homes.

About Zoetis

Zoetis (zō-EH-tis) is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 60 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products and genetic tests and supported by a range of services. In 2014, the company generated annual revenue of $4.8 billion.

With approximately 10,000 employees worldwide at the beginning of 2015, Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in 120 countries. For more information, visit www.zoetisUS.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 Data on file, Study Report No. Restricted Grant-FTLEPTO13 (v1.0) TI-01366, Zoetis Inc.

² Data on file, Study Report No. B951R-US-13-043, Zoetis Inc.

³ Data on file, Study Report No. B951R-US-13-046, Zoetis Inc.

⁴ Divers TJ, Chang Y-F. Leptospirosis. In: Robinson NE, Sprayberry KA, eds. Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. Vol 6. 6^th ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier;2009:145-147.

⁵ Levett PN. Leptospirosis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2001;14(2):296-326.