Leptospira thrives in a humid climate
The disease leptospirosis is caused by the Leptospira bacterium, which is capable of infecting numerous kinds of animal, including dogs, horses, cattle, pigs and rodents.
Leptospirosis is also a zoonosis, i.e., it can be transmitted to humans. Since Leptospira thrives in places where the climate is humid, the disease may become more of a problem in Sweden if the climate here becomes warmer and wetter.
Leptospirosis is suspected of having caused impaired reproduction among pigs at a number of farms in Sweden. The disease is difficult to diagnose, however.
Leptospirosis is present among wild boar, which are suspected of spreading the disease to pigs kept outdoors. Researchers at SLU in Uppsala are now studying various serovars (strains) of Leptospira, as well as their occurrence and geographical distribution among wild boar and pigs kept outdoors. Preliminary results from the study show that the disease is found among both wild boar and pigs kept outdoors.
Writer:
Nora Adelsköld (red.)
Published:
2008-04-02
Leptospirosis is a common disease in numerous animal species and it can also be transmitted to humans. Wild boars could possibly cause leptospirosis in outdoor pigs. Photo: Mats Gerentz