10/27/2020: 

A leptospirosis infection was found at seven dairy farms (antibodies were found in the bulk milk twice). This is an increase versus previous years. In addition, there was a suspected infection at one more dairy farm, but a second bulk milk test could not take place because the cattle had already been disposed of. However, one of the seven infected farms where antibodies have now been found, had purchased cattle from the suspected farm. Two farms treated all animals with antibiotics, and therefore had suspect/treated status. Three of the seven farms had imported animals from Germany. Two other farms, at which antibodies have now been detected, had purchased cattle from Dutch dairy farms, including foreign cattle. Our advice is to always pre-screen animals from abroad, to transport them to the Netherlands individually and to initially place them in quarantine for four to six weeks. After all, infection can also occur during transport. If the animals have been examined directly upon arrival, have them examined again at the end of the quarantine period. When prescreening has taken place abroad, ensure a sensitive test has been used. The MAT test is still used abroad very often, and is less sensitive than the ELISA we use here in the Netherlands. The MAT test can give a negative result six months after infection, even though the animals are still infectious. This advice also applies to animal movements within the Netherlands, if the source farm is not leptospirosis-free.

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