The need to apply vaccines in different species – small ruminants
2012 • 1 10 Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has been successfully controlled and eliminated in many parts of the world using conventional disease control measures, including vaccination of domestic animals. Potent vaccines have also been the mainstay in controlling outbreaks in non-enzootic regions. Several characteristics of FMD complicate the use of vaccines to control the disease. Not only are there seven serotypes, with little cross-protection between the serotypes, but genetic and antigenic variants occur within these serotypes. In addition, FMD virus can infect over 70 cloven-hoofed species, many of which are free-living wild animals. The role of sheep and goats in the epidemiology of the disease is poorly understood and perceived differently in different parts of the world. This perception is reflected in the vaccination policies applied in these countries. Cattle are generally the species of choice in vaccination programmes, while sheep and goats are vaccinated in only a small number of countries, and then mostly either for strategic purposes or as part of a routine disease control programme. The general assumption is that sheep and goats do not play a significant role in the spread of the disease or as sentinel animals to detect clinical disease. However, this assumption does not hold true for all circumstances or under all epidemiological conditions. This paper describes the potential circumstances under which the vaccination of small livestock should be considered to mitigate the risk of viral spread or to contain an outbreak of the disease. The need to apply vaccines in different species – small ruminants
Immune responses of goats against foot-and-mouth disease quadrivalent vaccine: comparison of double oil emulsion and aluminium hydroxide gel vaccines in eliciting immunity.
The epidemiological role of small ruminants in foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks has been generally neglected. Although, the disease in these species is sub-clinical in nature, their role as virus carriers represents a reservoir for further infection and spread of disease. Data on the usefulness of polyvalent FMD vaccine (FMDV) in goats is scant. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the benefits of a highly potent polyvalent FMDV in goats. In the present investigations, FMDV quadrivalent double oil emulsion (Montanide ISA 206) vaccines were tested in goats at reduced doses of 2 ml per animal (antigen payload 3.5 microg per serotype per dose). The oil adjuvant elicited superior immune response at any given period than aluminium hydroxide gel (AGS) vaccine and the rapidity of development of response was quicker. The duration of immunity also appeared to be maintained for long period. The differences in immune response between two adjuvant groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The differences were apparent even in kinetics of immune response. Unlike cattle, goats were found to be late responders for oil-adjuvanted vaccine. Our results indicate possible universal usage of double oil emulsion vaccines for disease control programs irrespective of species of animals.
[Foot and mouth disease in sheep and goats].
Small ruminants play an important role in the epidemiology and transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The main reasons therefore are: FMD is difficult to diagnose as infected sheep not always show typical clinical symptoms or as the cardinal signs mimicked other diseases. Sheep and goats may be carriers. Infected herds which practice transhumance or are nomadic can spread the infection to other herds long before diagnose of the disease is established. Shipping and trade with live sheep and goats is much more common world wide than in other FMD susceptible species. Lack of registration of all sheep and goat herds (especially of small hobby herds) and lack of individual identifications signs (ear tags) may result in incomplete control measurements under FMD conditions. Basing on published experiences with the actual FMD epidemic in the UK and basing on the own experiences with the restrictions to prevent from spreading of the FMD from the UK to Germany suggestions for future disease control are made.