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Clostridial diseases in dairy cattle
Economic benefits, animal welfare and human health considerations of vaccination programs

Lex Turner and Jill Stephens, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries

Introduction

Five diseases, which are usually fatal to cattle, are included in this group of clostridial diseases - tetanus, malignant oedema, blackleg, enterotoxaemia and black disease. These diseases are not directly transmissible to humans from cattle.

A vaccination program can produce long-term immunity to the clostridial diseases, which may present a serious threat to the health of many cattle in the herd.

Dairy cattle differ from other types of livestock production systems in having management factors that increase the risk of exposure to infectious diseases.

Primarily these factors include:

  • close contact within the herd
  • confinement during milking, yarding etc
  • moist conditions
  • early weaning and
  • intensive feeding.

Therefore, disease prevention becomes a higher priority under these conditions in order to avoid high rates of disease in the herd.

Causes and symptoms

(i) Tetanus (Cl. tetani )

  • Infection usually enters via a deep puncture wound or from dehorning and castration wounds.
  • Symptoms: muscle stiffness and tremor; whole body rigidity; protrusion of the third eyelid; convulsions and death.
  • Note: Tetanus antitoxin should be used to provide immediate temporary protection if castrating or dehorning cattle that are not already vaccinated with tetanus toxoid.

(ii) Malignant oedema (Cl. septicum )

  • Usually caused by infection of a deep wound.
  • Symptoms: swelling at the site of infection; fever; muscle tremor and weakness; and death within 48 hours.

(iii) Blackleg (Cl. chauvoei )

  • Usually affects young, fast-growing cattle.
  • Bacteria may enter muscle through small wounds or after bruising.
  • Symptoms: fever with gassy swelling at the site of infection; or sudden death.

(iv) Enterotoxaemia (Cl. perfringens type D)

  • Usually affects calves when conditions in the gut favour rapid growth of the bacteria ie. introduction of grain rations;
  • Often associated with bloat.
  • Symptoms: bellowing, mania, diarrhoea, convulsions, paralysis, blindness or sudden death.

(v) Black disease (Cl. novyi type B)

  • Usually occurs in cattle with liver fluke.
  • Symptoms: severe liver disease, which is highly fatal within one-two days.

Animal welfare

  • Animal welfare is a major concern and more recently, the consumers' demand.
  • One of the main measures of welfare is freedom from disease.
  • A vaccination program can significantly reduce the incidence of disease.

Human health

  • Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease in humans.
  • The bacteria may be common on dairy farms and infection is usually acquired via a deep puncture wound.
  • Therefore it is very important that all people on dairy farms are routinely vaccinated for tetanus.

Potential risk

Clostridial bacteria present a significant disease risk in dairy cattle because the bacteria:

  • are common in the environment;
  • are very long-lived;
  • multiply rapidly in infected cattle;
  • produce powerful toxins that are often fatal; and
  • often affect well-grown animals, because younger calves often have some temporary protection from drinking colostrum.

Incidence

DPI reported 58 cases of blackleg alone in cattle in south-east Queensland from Oct 1999 to June 2002.

Potential economic losses

High losses due to sudden deaths in unvaccinated cattle.

Prevention and control

A vaccination program can provide long-term immunity to clostridial diseases.

A '5in1' vaccination protects against all five clostridial diseases - tetanus, malignant oedema, blackleg, enterotoxaemia and black disease.

Vaccination program

  • Give an initial vaccination at three-six months of age;
  • Give a second dose four-six weeks later; and then
  • An annual booster.

All unvaccinated or introduced cattle should get: the two 'priming' vaccinations four-six weeks apart (before being introduced into the herd); and then an annual booster.

Enterotoxaemia:

The two priming vaccinations may only give immunity for three months.

It is recommended that vaccination against enterotoxaemia be repeated at appropriate intervals depending on local and seasonal conditions
eg. less than three months before a high-risk period, such as feeding grain during drought or lot feeding.

It is important to follow the advice given for the specific vaccine being used because recommendations for different manufacturers vary.

N.B. Using a combined leptospirosis-clostridial vaccine (7in1) will improve the efficiency and economy of the vaccination program.

Vaccination costs

The cost to vaccinate a herd can vary significantly.

The price per head can be affected by:

  • the total number of cattle to be vaccinated - larger herds generally cost less per head;
  • the regional prices;
  • the price from the particular supplier of the vaccine; and
  • acquiring vaccines when on special can significantly reduce the overall cost.

It is important to compare the different brands and various retailers to ensure implementing the most economic vaccination program.

Vaccine costs in this article indicate the cost of the doses only and do not include labour, materials or facility costs and are based on 2003 figures.

Vaccine costs for clostridial diseases

  • $0.25 per dose of a clostridial '5in1' vaccine for 100-cow herd;
  • if herd includes 100 cows, 3 bulls, 25 heifers, plus 40 heifer calves (calves require two doses) g 208 doses/year @ $0.25/dose = $52.00/yr.

Therefore the program would break even, if  an average cow (valued at $1 000) was saved every 19 years from any of the clostrial diseases by vaccination.

Combined leptospirosis and clostridial vaccines

Using a '7in1' vaccine (combined leptospirosis and clostridial vaccine) saves time and labour costs, because it requires only one injection instead of two.

Vaccine costs for a '7in1' vaccine:

  • $1.00 per dose of a '7in1' for 100-cow herd ® 208 doses/year = $208/year.

Therefore the program would break even,  if an average cow (valued at $1 000) was saved every five years by a '7in1' vaccination.

Important considerations when vaccinating cattle

  • The manufacturer's instructions should be followed closely.
  • Store and handle vaccines correctly to ensure their effectiveness is not reduced.
  • Safety precautions for workers handling vaccines and associated equipment should be adhered to carefully.
  • Ensure safe disposal of used equipment, avoiding environmental contamination.
  • Animals should be in good health to optimise the immunity gained.
  • Vaccination does not provide instant protection - generally full protection doesn't occur until up to four weeks after the initial doses.

Summary

A vaccination program can be a very cost-effective management tool in avoiding potentially high numbers of fatalities, significant production losses and serious animal suffering, due to the clostridial diseases in a dairy herd.

This DPI&F Note is also published on the DPI&F's PrimeNotes CD-ROM.

Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.

Last updated 14 March 2007