Solution name: Vaccinating against Clostridia and Pasteurella

Aim: To present the benefits of vaccination against Clostridia and Pasteurella

Description:

• Clostridia and Pasteurella are two families of bacteria that can cause major problems to sheep flocks
• Pulpy kidney, black disease, braxy, lamb dysentery, struck, blackleg, tetanus, bacterial red water, haemorrhagic enteritis, enterotoxaemia, Clostridial metritis, malignant oedema, and Pasteurella pneumonia are diseases that can be vaccinated against
• Most of these diseases do not cause detectable illness/symptoms other than death and outbreaks can occur

How to implement:

• By vaccinating ewes annually before lambing, their antibody levels remain sufficiently high to allow protective cover to be transferred to their lambs
• For lambs to benefit from their dam’s vaccination, they must receive adequate quantities of good quality colostrum within the first 2 hours after birth to receive passive immunity
• Animals should not be vaccinated if sick or immunodeficient
• Vaccine type (Clostridial +/- Pasteurella) depends on individual farm issues
• Vaccine should be stored as directed and shelf life before and after opening observed
• Vaccination procedure can vary but it is typically administered by subcutaneous injection in the lateral side of the upper neck
• The bottle should be well shaken before any vaccine is withdrawn
• Syringes and needles should be sterile before use and the injection should be made through an area of clean, dry skin taking precautions against contamination

A typical schedule for both Clostridial and Pasteurella vaccination in sheep is presented in the table below.