Table 8.
Preventive measures for leptospirosis
| Animal surveys of a locale |
| Animal surveys of an area help determine the reservoir of the leptospires and examine the size of the population of these host animals. In addition, culturing of kidney tissue from these host animals can help detect the leptospiral serovars in a particular area |
| Water and soil samples |
| These studies are primarily retrospective and not hightly effective in controlling leptospirosis |
| Rodent control |
| Installation of fences and screens to exclude rats and feral animals |
| Rodent-proofing of buildings |
| Removal of food and trash from recreational areas which may attract rodents and other feral animals |
| Trapping and poisoning of rats and feral animals |
| Warning signs for potentially contaminated areas |
| Limiting access to potentially infected water sources and mud |
| Hygiene and sanitation |
| Provision of safe drinking water |
| Protective clothing (gloves, boots, glasses, aprons, and masks) |
| Sanitary procedures (washing hands) |
| Washing and (occlusive) bandaging of wounds |
| Avoidance of potentially contaminated water and soil |
| Avoidance of potentially contaminated body fluids and tissues |
| Antibiotic prophylaxis |
| Vaccines |
| Litter control |
| Disinfection and cleaning |
| Disinfection of contaminated areas (barns, slaughterhouses) |
| Cleaning with antibacterial cleaning solution or a solution of 1 part household bleach in 10 parts water |
| Bleach, acids, alkalis, chlorines, disinfectants, UV filtration, steam-cleaning, irradiation, and drying will typically kill leptospires |
| Harvesting |
| Use machinery when possible for harvesting thus reducing human contact with potentially infected animals and environmental sources |
| Prevention of domestic livestock |
| Buying certified leptospire-free animals |
| Avoiding communal pastures if possible |
| By keeping sheep and infected animals out of a pasture for at least 2 months will usually provide sufficient time for any leptospires present in the field to die because drying and sunlight will kill the leptospires |
| Isolation and slaughtering of infected animals |
| Antibiotics for potential leptospite sheeding |
| Vaccines |
| Serovars icterohemorrhagiae and canicola for dogs |
| Serovars hardjo and pomona for cattle |
| Serovars pomona, tarassovi and bratislava for pigs |
| Proper disposal of animal waste to prevented infection in uninfected animals and humans |
| Effective laboratory safety procedures |
| Education |
| Causative organism |
| Signs and symptoms |
| Control and prevention measures |
| Treatment |