A clostridial vaccine is a
vaccine for sheep and cattle that protects against diseases caused by toxins produced by an infection with one or more ''
Clostridium
''Clostridium'' is a genus of anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria. Species of ''Clostridium'' inhabit soils and the intestinal tract of animals, including humans. This genus includes several significant human pathogens, including the causative ag ...
'' bacteria.
Clostridial vaccines are often administered to pregnant ewes a few weeks before they are due to give birth, in order to give
passive immunity Passive immunity is the transfer of active humoral immunity of ready-made antibodies. Passive immunity can occur naturally, when maternal antibodies are transferred to the fetus through the placenta, and it can also be induced artificially, when hi ...
to their lambs.
Clostridial bacteria multiply rapidly in infected sheep, and produce large amounts of toxin which can cause the sheep to die within hours.
Clostridial vaccines can contain anti-toxins to one or more endotoxins produced by the following bacteria:
* ''
Clostridium chauvoei''
* ''
Clostridium haemolyticum
''Clostridium haemolyticum'' is a species of bacteria in the family of Clostridiaceae.
Based on 16S-rDNA sequence analysis, ''C. haemolyticum'' is closely related to '' C. novyi'' and ''C. botulinum
''Clostridium botulinum'' is a Gram-posit ...
''
* ''
Clostridium novyi''
* ''
Clostridium perfringens''
* ''
Clostridium septicum''
* ''
Clostridium sordellii''
* ''
Clostridium tetani''
Clostridial vaccines which protect sheep against multiple clostridial diseases have been available since the 1950s.
References
Animal vaccines
Sheep and goat diseases
{{Veterinary-med-stub