How do humans catch leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is easy to catch from an infected animal. For dairy farmers it is usually by way of infected cattle urine through cuts in the skin. Assisting animal birth, handling membranes, kidneys or bladder from infected animals are other ways of becoming infected. Infected pigs are also a common source of infection for humans because of the exposure to urine. Contact with urine from infected rats, mice and hedgehogs is also a common source of infection, e.g. handling calf feed contaminated by rat urine.

How does leptospirosis affect humans?

The effect of leptospirosis in humans varies from no apparent effect, to flu-like symptoms, to severe illness. If the disease progresses to kidney failure, liver failure or meningitis, then hospitalisation is required. The symptoms are often prolonged and recurrent because the physical damage to the kidney and liver may remain after the infection has cleared. Some farmers who have contracted leptospirosis have ended up on dialysis due to permanent kidney failure.

How do I prevent leptospirosis on my farm?

By following the Leptosure risk management programme fully, you can be confident that you have taken all ‘practicable steps’ to prevent leptospirosis infecting people on your dairy farm.

Would you like more information on Leptosure?

For further information, please contact us (please include your name, address, phone number and local veterinary practice) or click here for the Leptospirosis brochure "vaccination is not enough".