Why do so many cattle still die of blackleg?

摘要

Even though it was first diagnosed in medieval times, and despite the availability of vaccines for its control, many deaths are still recorded from blackleg annually in Ireland, writes Maureen Prendergast MVB CertVR CertES PhD MRCVS, pharmacovigilancemanager, MSD Animal Health.There was a time when clostridial disease control simply meant vaccinating cattle against blackleg prior to turnout. However, this approach is no longer adequate due to the increasing prevalence of other clostridial diseases. Clostridial bacteria are ubiquitous, gram-positive spore-forming microorganisms with differing levels of oxygen tolerance and many can survive in extreme environmental conditions in soil. They are very important bovine pathogens. They will always be around. The warm, damp soil of Ireland predisposes to high levels of disease. We must encourage farmers to vaccinate effectively to control this constant threat.