Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by members of the pathogenic Leptospira species. Members of these species are pathogens of cattle, pigs, sheep, horses and dogs. They cause major economic loss to the intensive cattle and pig industries of the developed world through their effect on reproductive performance. They also constitute an important occupational disease risk for those who work in these industries.

The major research interest of this unit has been the role of Leptospira sp in the aetiology of reproductive wastage in domestic animals and its diagnosis and control. The strength of the work has been the ability of this unit to culture the most fastidious leptospires from clinical and pathological material. Consequently the unit has  made a major contribution to the understanding of the role of the cattle adapted serovar Hardjo and the pig adapted serovar Bratislava as causes of reproductive wastage in their respective maintenance hosts and the importance of  the male and female genital tracts as a sites of long term persistence. They have also shown that serovar Bratislava is a dog and horse pathogen while Hardjo may be a significant sheep agent.

The laboratory is based in a modern bacteriology facility completed in 2005.

In addition, it has access to environmentally controlled animal housing, including  a Category 3 containment experimental animal unit, flexible housing for large numbers of sheep, animal handling and milk recording facilities.

Areas of interest include:

Dr Zbigniew Arent - zbigniew.arent@afbini.gov.uk
Colm Gilmore - colm.gilmore@afbini.gov.uk
Dr W. A. Ellis (Consultant) - bill.ellis@afbini.gov.uk

OIE Leptospira Reference Laboratory,
Veterinary Sciences Division,
AFBI,
Stoney Road,
Stormont,
Belfast
Northern Ireland, UK
BT23 6RW

Telephone number: +44 (0)2890 525667
Fax number +44(0)2890 519432