Can vaccines for contagious agalactia reduce disease progression in infected animals: a preliminary study?
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Stefano Agnello; Robin A.J. Nicholas; Roberto Puleio; Guido Ruggero Loria; Gavino Marogna
- Source
- Veterinary Record Case Reports. 6
- Subject
- General Veterinary
040301 veterinary sciences
ved/biology
business.industry
Mycoplasma agalactiae
ved/biology.organism_classification_rank.species
0402 animal and dairy science
Physiology
Outbreak
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
Mycoplasma
medicine.disease_cause
medicine.disease
040201 dairy & animal science
0403 veterinary science
Vaccination
medicine.anatomical_structure
Inactivated vaccine
medicine
Flock
Udder
business
Keratoconjunctivitis
- Language
- ISSN
- 2052-6121
A flock of sheep in Central Sicily was affected by a severe outbreak of contagious agalactia (CA) caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae, affecting nearly 30% resulting in a large drop in milk production. Many ewes had warm and swollen udders that often became sclerotic and was accompanied by keratoconjunctivitis and arthritis in both adults and young. As antibiotic treatment appeared ineffective, the whole flock was given two doses of an inactivated vaccine against M agalactiae two weeks apart. A small group was selected for close examination and additional tests. A fortnight after the last vaccination mycoplasma excretion fell in all but one of the selected ewes and was undetectable in all but two animals two weeks after that. In nearly all the selected ewes, there was an improvement in milk quality and udder condition. This work provided preliminary evidence for the continued use of CA vaccines to slow or prevent disease progression.