Serologic response of llamas to a commercially prepared leptospirosis vaccine

Abstract Leptospirosis has been reported in llamas living in North America. Llamas in some locations are routinely vaccinated against leptospirosis in an attempt to prevent the disease. In order to determine if llamas respond to a leptospirosis vaccine, 14 llamas were immunized twice at 2 week intervals with a commercially available five-way leptospirosis vaccine. Blood was then collected for serum titer evaluation using a microagglutination technique for 5 months. Serologic response to the vaccine was low and of short duration to all five serovars, regardless of prevaccination titer. By 12 weeks postvaccination, only animals with serum titers ⩾ 1:200 to Leptospira pomona prevaccination still had serum titers ⩾ 1:200. Seven references are cited.