Clostridial Diseases

Clostridial diseases are a group of diseases caused by bacteria from the clostridia family. These bacteria are everywhere. They live in the soil and in the gut and tissues of healthy animals. Their spores can last for decades in the environment. The 5 clostridial diseases that can affect sheep, cattle, deer, goats and alpacas are tetanus, blackleg, pulpy kidney, malignant oedema and black disease.

Under favourable conditions the bacteria multiply rapidly and release toxins. The course of disease is very rapid and treatment is not normally an option. Clostridial diseases are usually fatal and often the only thing you will see is a dead animal.

Clostridial bacteria cannot be eradicated from the environment, therefore the best way to prevent disease is by vaccinating your animals.

Vaccination is cheap and effective, so why wouldn’t you vaccinate?

Vaccination of animals with clostridial vaccines can be used to provide two different kinds of immunity; active immunity and passive immunity.

  1. Active immunity is when an animal has been vaccinated, and its immune system is primed to produce the necessary antibodies to fight the disease in question.
  1. Passive immunity is when antibodies themselves are provided for the animal. This is achieved in two ways:
  2. by colostrum (first milk) orally in the first 24-48hours of life
  3. by injection of antibodies e.g. Lambvacc

There are several different vaccines available that protect against clostridial diseases; the main one we use at the Dairy Flat Veterinary Clinic is called Ultravac 5in1. This vaccine can be used earlier than most other vaccines.

The ideal situation: Every ewe, cow, doe or hembra is completely vaccinated, including a booster vaccine in late pregnancy; this provides them with active immunity and gives their new-born passive immunity for 6-8 weeks. When using Ultravac 5in1 the dam’s booster should ideally be given within 4 weeks prior to giving birth.

With Ultravac 5in1 calves should get their first vaccine at 6 weeks (or before), then a booster 4 weeks later. After that they need an annual booster.

With Ultravac 5in1 lambs should get their first vaccine at docking, then a booster 4 weeks later. After that they need an annual booster.

Docking and castrating time poses a risk of catching tetanus. If the dam was fully vaccinated and the young are docked/castrated before 6 weeks of age (and they should be) then they will be protected by passive immunity. If not, or the dams vaccination history is not known, then they should be injected with anti-tetanus antibodies (e.g. Lambvacc, PK antitet) at the time of docking and castration.

Proper storage of vaccines is imperative – in the fridge.