Clostridial Diseases in Sheep – Why vaccinate?
– Producers can prevent economic losses from certain diseases by planning a vaccine program.
– Livestock are vaccinated to protect against some of the most common serious infectious diseases
– Vaccination stimulates the body’s defence system to build immunity to a particular disease by exposing them to the organisms in the form of a vaccine
– Initially, vaccinations require a booster following the first vaccination 4-6 weeks later, and then ideally an annual booster
– Most of the clostridial diseases result in sudden death if an animal is not immune to the disease, resulting in potentially huge economic losses
A little info on the 5 clostridial diseases that the 5in1 vaccine covers..
Enterotoxaemia (Pulpy Kidney) –
- Often a disease of younger stock undergoing nutritional changes – sudden change to a low fibre, high carb diet, moved onto lush, rapidly growing pasture or cereal crops, or grain
- Clinical Signs –
- Sudden death following convulsions
- NO treatment
Tetanus (Lock Jaw)
- Bacteria is found in the soil and enters the animal through cuts/puncture wounds
- Clinical signs
- Muscle rigidity/spasms, increase response to stimuli, convulsions, death
Black Leg
- Soil borne infection that is presumed to enter the animal through ingesting feed off the ground
- Livestock involved; cattle 6mths – 2yo, sheep of all ages
- Rapidly growing stock on a high plane of nutrition
- Warm wet months
- Clinical Signs
- Lameness, swelling of upper limbs, muscle necrosis
- High fatality rate
Malignant Oedema (Gas Gangrene)
- Infection is usually soil borne with entry through deep puncture wounds/trauma
- All ages of stock susceptible; particularly females that have just given birth
- Clinical Signs –
- Inflammation, swelling/oedema and pain
Black Disease
- Bacteria resides in soil. Most common cause of infection through faecal contamination of pasture
- Associated with liver fluke
- Clinical signs –
- Sudden death
The extra disease covered with a 6 in1 vaccine…
Cheesy Gland (Caseous Lymphadenitis)
- Endemic, infectious, contagious disease
- Higher incidence in adult stock
- Bacteria invade through wounds, broken/abraded skin, contaminated materials in water or feed, or directly from draining abscesses
- Clinical Signs –
- Enlargement of one or more superficial lymph nodes
- Abscesses that commonly rupture