Key Clostridial Disease Points for Producers
Clostridial disease is rapid, often fatal, and usually untreatable.
Young, fast-growing animals on lush feed are at highest risk.
Stress events (marking, yarding, lambing/calving, pasture change) can trigger disease.
Vaccination is the only effective prevention.
Two initial doses are required, followed by annual boosters.
What are Clostridia?
Clostridia are a naturally occurring family of bacteria that are widespread within the environment and in the gut of grazing animals such as sheep, cattle and goats. In the soil, clostridia can survive for long periods of time and rapidly multiply when conditions are ideal. Many clostridial organisms can also naturally occur within the gut of healthy animals and cause no harm, passing through the digestive tract and contaminating the soil.
However, when conditions are favourable, clostridia can multiply uncontrollably and produce highly potent toxins that lead to what we call clostridial disease. Young, fast-growing grazing animals are at the greatest risk, particularly when moved onto lush paddocks or crops, or when they are on an increasing plane of nutrition.
Rapid multiplication of clostridia is often triggered by periods of environmental change or physiological stress, such as marking, yarding or movement onto lush feed. Other triggers include liver fluke, wounds or bruising, lambing or calving, lack of oxygen, pasture flush, or changes in gut pH. Clostridial disease often results in severe illness or sudden death.
Clostridial Disease Types
In Australia, there are 5 key clostridial disease types:
- Blackleg (Clostridium chauvoei)
- Tetanus (Clostridium tetanii)
- Black disease (Clostridium novyi)
- Pulpy kidney or Enterotoxaemia (Clostridium perfringens type D)
- Malignant oedema (Clostridium septicum)
Often the first sign of clostridial disease is finding a dead animal. If animals contract any of these diseases, they are incredibly difficult to treat, even when clinical signs of infection are detected early. Death often occurs before treatment can be effectively administered, which is why preventative vaccination is a critical component of any animal health program.
Other diseases commonly included in clostridial vaccines for Australian sheep and cattle, like 6-in-1, 7-in-1 or Glanvac, include:
- Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)
- Lamb Dysentery (Clostridium perfringens type B)
- Leptospirosis (Leptospira hardjo & Leptospira pomona) (Zoonotic: meaning it can be contracted by people)
- Cheesy gland (Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis – not a clostridial disease, but often included in combination vaccines)
Types of Clostridial Vaccines
Clostridial vaccines contain inactivated bacterins, toxoids, or a combination of both. These vaccines are commonly available in formulations containing 2, 4, 7 or 8 bacterins and/or toxoids. You may recognise these from products like GlanEry 7in1, Glanvac 6 S B12, Taxvax 8 in 1, Guardian 6 in 1, and other similar products.
Clostridial vaccines are administered subcutaneously, meaning they are given under the skin. In some cases, these injections are combined with vitamin or mineral supplementation, such as selenium or vitamin B12.
It’s very safe to inject your stock with their annual booster vaccinations at the same time that you drench them. For example in the case of pre-lambing treatments, you can drench orally with Vetmec LV and Vetmec Dual, inject Moxiguard Long Acting on one side of the neck and your clostridial vaccine in the other side of the neck.
Vaccinating Against Clostridial Disease
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent clostridial disease in sheep and cattle. Newborn animals should receive two clostridial vaccinations within the first six months of life, followed by an annual booster.
- 1st Injection: Calves within 8 weeks from birth and lambs within 12 weeks from birth.
- 2nd Injection: 4 to 6 weeks after their 1st injection, which is vital to provide adequate levels of protection.
- Yearly/Annual Booster: pregnant cows and ewes should receive a booster between 2 and 8 weeks before calving/lambing. The timing of this allows the cow/ewe to give passive immunity against Clostridia to their offspring.
Vaccination timing is particularly important for pregnant females, as correct scheduling helps maximise protection of their offspring during the most vulnerable early stages of life. Booster vaccines generally take approximately 10 days to provide effective immunity, so best practice is to vaccinate at least 10 days prior to moving animals onto high-risk (lush) paddocks.
References
Clostridial Diseases | Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)
Disease Prevention for Calves | Livestock Solutions | Zoetis
Overview of Clostridial Diseases in Animals | MSD Animal Health
Fact Sheet Clostridial disease | Stock Sense | Victorian Farmers Federation
Clostridial Diseases of Sheep and Cattle | Meander Valley Veterinary Service
Clostridial Diseases of Livestock | Department of Environment and Primary Industry Vic
Managing Clostridial Disease in Sheep and Cattle with MSD Animal Health | neXtgen Agri