Vol. 490 No. 5
154 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, his Department has to deal with herd where there are outbreaks of leptospirosin; and if he will make a full statement on the plans, if any, he has to deal with herds with this problem. [10758/98]
Leptospira are among the most widely distributed bacteria in nature, causing disease in most species of animals and in man throughout the world.
A form of leptospirosis, namely leptospira hardjo, is endemic in cattle and many herds will have been exposed to the organism over the past 10-15 years. The severity varies depending on the immune status of the herd. Infection of herds is mainly through the purchase of infected carrier animals or through flooding of pastures.
Over the past 15 years the veterinary laboratory service' VLS, of my Department has advised private veterinary practitioners to encourage the implementation of disease-control measures in herds, including a vaccination policy to prevent the development of clinical disease and to reduce the potential exposure of dairy animals on farms to infection. Vaccination, if correctly used, is a highly effective means of controlling the disease. Several vaccines are available on the market for this purpose. The VLS continues to provide a diagnostic and advisory service to herdowners through their veterinary practitioners to assist them in controlling this disease.
