Story: Diseases of sheep, cattle and deer

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis

Here, a number of rope-like leptospira bacteria are shown through an electron microscope. Infection in humans can cause fever, severe headaches, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. However, some people show no symptoms at all. Meat workers, dairy farmers and veterinarians are the people most at risk. Stock carrying the disease should be identified, isolated and vaccinated.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) by Janice Haney Carr

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How to cite this page:

Gary Clark, Neville Grace and Ken Drew, 'Diseases of sheep, cattle and deer - Infectious and parasitic diseases of deer', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17530/leptospirosis (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Gary Clark, Neville Grace and Ken Drew, published 24 Nov 2008