Footvax
Active substance
ATC code
Species
Sheep.
Indications
For the active immunisation of sheep as an aid to the prevention of footrot and reduction of lesions of footrot caused by serotypes of Dichelobacter nodosus.
Dose to be administered and administration route
Dose: 1 ml
Administration
Initial Course: Two doses, 6 weeks apart by subcutaneous injection. The site for injection is on the side of the neck 2-3 inches behind the ear.
Thoroughly shake the vaccine before use.
As the vaccine contains an oil adjuvant it is rather viscous. It will aid administration in cold weather if the vaccine is gently warmed by immersion in warm water (not hot) for 3-4 minutes before use.
Syringes and needles should be sterilised before use and the injection made through an area of clean, dry skin, taking strict precautions against contamination in order to reduce the possibility of abscess formation.
Vaccination programmes
These should be tailored to meet individual flock requirements which will vary from season to season according to the actual or likely incidence of footrot.
Wherever possible ‘whole flock’ vaccination programmes should be adopted. By this means disease incidence in the flock will decline and subsequent disease risk from the environment will be greatly reduced.
Prevention programme
Commence vaccination with a single dose of vaccine. Further doses of vaccine will be required according to the flock disease status and/or the climatic conditions.
If, after 4-6 weeks significant levels of disease remain in the flock or climatic conditions conducive to footrot persist, administer a further dose. Otherwise delay this dose until conditions favour re-emergence of the disease. Subsequent doses should also be administered according to prevailing conditions. Thus, with severe and constant disease challenge, revaccination may be necessary at 4-5 monthly intervals; conversely under favourable conditions revaccination may be delayed until the incidence of disease challenge increases or climatic conditions worsen.
It should be noted that these adverse conditions tend to occur in the UK between March and May and between October and December thus, vaccination should normally be completed shortly before these periods if problems are anticipated.
Treatment programme
A single dose of vaccine should be given to the flock immediately the disease becomes apparent. For maximum effect, treatment with Footvax should be combined with the use of a footbath and antibiotic treatment.
Revaccination should be as stated in the prevention programme, which should then be continued on the farm as the key element of the overall flock foot care programme.
Adverse reactions
The vaccine may cause a reaction at the site of injection. This may range from a slight swelling from about 24 hours after injection, to a well defined lump of about 3 cm diameter 8 days after injection. These may further increase in size to 5 or even 8 cm diameter but these swellings generally remain inactive and may resolve completely within 4-6 weeks. Frequently swellings persist for at least ten weeks. Occasionally, however, these swellings may be large, painful and unsightly, with the formation of abscesses which may burst and discharge, particularly if any contaminating skin bacteria are introduced at the time of injection. Even so, partial or complete resolution within ten weeks of inoculation can be expected.
Reactions to second doses develop more slowly but the formation of necrotic lesions is rare.
Occasionally abscesses may be noted on macroscopic examination of injection sites. Subcutaneous necrosis and inflammation may be noted on microscopic examination of injection sites.
Occasional hypersensitivity reactions may occur. In such cases, an appropriate dose of adrenalin and/or antihistamines should be administered without delay.
On rare occasions variable incidence of generalised lameness has been reported in vaccinated sheep. This is thought to be due to a local immunological reaction in the feet and is transitory in nature, occurring within 24 hours of vaccination and normally persisting for no more than 48 hours. Treatment is seldom necessary.
