Enzovax and Toxovax

[Northeastfarmer]

Had similar here about 10years ago. Embarked on vaccination with Toxovax (advised to do everything in first year - expensive). Did all replacements for next 2 years. In year 4, when we wanted to do the next lot of replacements, no vaccine was available (some manufacturing problem) so they didn't get done. Same happened in year 5
We've not bothered since. What's the point if they can't supply vaccine when you want it?
Had a 'bit of a wobble' with a few abortions at the start of lambing this year but all tests came back negative.
Maybe it will come back and bite us on the @rse one day

Wouldn't like to advise you one way or the other

Hmmm I don't like jabbing sheep for everthing as I like them to build immunities...apart from being wormed once a year and fluked twice that's all my ewes get...looks like it's about to change!

 

[dunk999]

Farmacy enzovax £2.04/ dose toxovax £4.18/dose

 

[llamedos]

Received this yesterday, thought it may be of interest in this thread, I know how much you all appreciate PR.


Ewe blood test results reveal urgent need for pre-tupping vaccination

MILTON KEYNES, UK, 11 August 2017 – It’s likely that an insidious infectious disease was a significant cause of barrenness or abortion in ewes last year, according to an analysis of the latest diagnostic results released by MSD Animal Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada).

Blood samples from UK sheep farms were tested during 2016 when the subsidised EXPERTIS®FlockCheck diagnostic service was made available to vets between March and July last year.

According to the data, 79 percent of the flocks tested showed evidence of exposure to the parasiteToxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis. The data also show that 76 percent of flocks had been exposed to Chlamydophila abortus bacteria, the organism causing enzootic abortion (EAE); 60 percent of flocks had been exposed to both organisms.

“A preliminary analysis of 2017 data to date shows a similar overall disease picture, albeit with a slightly higher figure (81%) for exposure to Toxoplasma gondii,” says MSD Animal Health livestock veterinary adviser Stephanie Small.

Ms Small says this data highlights the continuing widespread prevalence of these financially damaging diseases in the national flock and is urging all sheep producers to discuss their individual farm situation with their vet, well in advance of the upcoming autumn tupping season.

“Toxoplasmosis, in particular, remains a key cause of barrenness and abortion in UK sheep flocks. It also causes reabsorptions, mummified foetuses, stillbirths and weakly lambs, and as a result of the range of different disease pictures that can manifest, its effects on flock profits are often vastly underestimated. Toxoplasmosis is so widespread that the industry focus should be on preventing infection in breeding ewes and the best way to do that is to vaccinate replacements well before they go to the ram. The clear industry advice is to ensure every ewe is vaccinated before it breeds.

“Sheep pick up the infection from the environment and so normal biosecurity measures are not enough to control the disease. Infected cats shed toxoplasma eggs in their faeces and sheep become infected when they ingest these eggs from contaminated pasture, feed and water,” Ms Small says.

Another underlying disease problem that often manifests itself as significant early lamb losses is enzootic abortion (EAE).

“EAE is caused by Chlamydophila abortus bacteria. The disease can cause devastating abortion storms affecting approximately 25 percent of ewes. Once a flock has the disease it is likely it will never disappear due to its persistence in carrier sheep. The disease often arrives on farm through bought-in replacements and is passed on from ewe to ewe at lambing time. If an unvaccinated ewe is infected she will more than likely abort in the next pregnancy.”

Ms Small urges any sheep producers who recorded a flock barren rate greater than two percent last season to talk to their vet for advice well before tupping this year, even if diagnostic blood samples have not been taken. Ask for help too if any ewes aborted lambs during lambing, she says.

“If either toxoplasmosis or EAE has been diagnosed in a flock, vaccination is the most effective way to help protect against these diseases for future years. The TOXOVAX® toxoplasmosis vaccine is known to protect the ewe for at least two lambing seasons and, conveniently, can be given to breeding females at any time between four months and four weeks before tupping.

“The ENZOVAX® vaccine helps protect the ewe for at least three years against EAE and all breeding females should be vaccinated any time between four months and three weeks before tupping,” Ms Small advises.

- ends -

Use medicines responsibly. For more information visit: www.noah.co.uk/responsible

 

[jemski]

^ but I'm guessing all those flocks checked were flocks that had had an abortion problem....

 

[llamedos]

^ but I'm guessing all those flocks checked were flocks that had had an abortion problem....

No, as far as I know, it was simply a free check, abortion status not factored in, with regards to farms offered the sampling.

 

[Nithsdale]

No, as far as I know, it was simply a free check, abortion status not factored in, with regards to farms offered the sampling.

The Flock Check is/was running up here, too...


Vets were using it as a free way to diagnose suspicious births/unexplained abortions or still births to find answers. IIRC it's funded by the company which makes Enzovax and Toxovax.

Basically If you have no issues, you don't get tested. I went through it 3 years ago to find out why I was losing lambs...

Their 'results' will always point to far higher level of abortion than a true UK wide survey

 

[Bones]

I vaccinate all my home bred shearlings every year for the toxo and enzo, this year for some reason I can't explain, a part from being a plonker, I give the sheep 1mil instead of usual 2 mil , what a dipstick I know,, wonder would this give them any cover???

 

[Nithsdale]

I vaccinate all my home bred shearlings every year for the toxo and enzo, this year for some reason I can't explain, a part from being a plonker, I give the sheep 1mil instead of usual 2 mil , what a dipstick I know,, wonder would this give them any cover???

Don't hold me to it, but I would suspect it will give them cover fine... You've still exposed them to abortion, albeit a lower exposure, so it should trigger their immune response.

Just don't make a habit of it.


I was thinking of resurrecting a thread actually, for prices - what sort of price were you for them this year? I need to get onto ordering my own in the next couple weeks

 

[copse]

I vaccinate all my home bred shearlings every year for the toxo and enzo, this year for some reason I can't explain, a part from being a plonker, I give the sheep 1mil instead of usual 2 mil , what a dipstick I know,, wonder would this give them any cover???

Would have thought it would still do the job really .

 

[neilo]

No idea whether it will work, but I suspect it will either work as well as a full dose or not at all. I guess you could test for antibodies a month after jagging if you were keen to know?

With the cost of the damned stuff, I'd not be in a hurry to assume it hadn't worked and rejag them, and would take the chance on having one year's worth of replacements that may not be covered.

 

[primmiemoo]

Blimmin' nuisance when something like that happens. How long ago did the error come to light? Have you still time before tupping to give the other mil of each? ETA, the usual juggling of cost definitely applies, but since they're your new breeders ...

 

[Bones]

Blimmin' nuisance when something like that happens. How long ago did the error come to light? Have you still time before tupping to give the other mil of each? ETA, the usual juggling of cost definitely applies, but since they're your new breeders ...

Only finished doing it a few hours ago,, three quarters way through it I realized I had a lot of stuff left, so upped the dose to 1,5 mil , thinking the vets had given me to much stuff, or the injection gun wasn't working, After that I give the last few 2mil, then went about randomly jaging ontil all the bottles were used up,

 

[Bones]

Don't hold me to it, but I would suspect it will give them cover fine... You've still exposed them to abortion, albeit a lower exposure, so it should trigger their immune response.

Just don't make a habit of it.


I was thinking of resurrecting a thread actually, for prices - what sort of price were you for them this year? I need to get onto ordering my own in the next couple weeks

If my calculations are right, Toxo £4.95,,, enzo £1.50 per dose before vat

 

[Nithsdale]

If my calculations are right, Toxo £4.95,,, enzo £1.50 per dose before vat

Similar price to last year IIRC

 

[CopperBeech]

That’s pretty cheap. Enzo 2.20-2.50 here

 

[primmiemoo]

Only finished doing it a few hours ago,, three quarters way through it I realized I had a lot of stuff left, so upped the dose to 1,5 mil , thinking the vets had given me to much stuff, or the injection gun wasn't working, After that I give the last few 2mil, then went about randomly jaging ontil all the bottles were used up,

Did the fully jabbed ewes get a different mark at all?

 

[Bones]

Did the fully jabbed ewes get a different mark at all?

No,

 

[primmiemoo]

No,

Might be useful to have a chat with the Vet about whether there's still a free blood test available ~ as per the mention upthread.

 

[ladycrofter]

Old cats aren't a problem IIRC, so no need to shoot him. Could be from a young wandering stray, or a bit of sh*te in bought in feed, where a cat visited a grain store somewhere? Any bought in feed, hay or sheep?

Best course of action is to vaccinate all replacements, every year. If you've had it through, most of the older sheep may be immune, but no gaurantees.
It's crazy money for the vaccine, but it would be the last abortion vaccine I'd stop.

+1 someone else's cat/stray

+1 combining stuff. If we followed all the official guidance for all the stuff we do in our health program, we'd be gathering sheep every bl**dy week some parts of the year.

Interesting here, not "much" of a toxo problem but all suspected cases were in the same field in a small mob, using the same trough. Same feed as all other mobs so not the problem. No cats here but quite a few down the road, and this field is the closest to them.

My theory - mice at the trough at night picking up bits and pieces, and the cats come for the mice. We are also in a wildcat area, I assume they can carry it?

 

[Bob the beef]

Did my gimmers yesterday with enzo £2.20 ea from vet. I think Farmacy are at £1.90 a dose but you need a vet prescription