This proposed research project will measure the efficacy of this new vaccine in treatment, control and prevention of footrot caused by this strain. This research will help determine how practical this approach will be to control, eliminate or eradicate virulent footrot from the affected farms.
Trial sheep in the selected flocks will be given a 1mL dose of the new serogroup M specific vaccine, with a 1mL booster vaccine administered a month later. Systematic random sampling will be used to identify a large sample size of the mob. These sheep will be examined for footrot lesions and blood serum agglutination antibody titres taken and recorded before and after vaccinations and followed for a few months. These results will be analysed to determine the effectiveness of the vaccination on these flocks.
Virulent footrot is a debilitating disease that causes lesions and separation of the hoof from the foot. Resultant lameness has a serious effect on the welfare of sheep including poor feed conversion and reduced body weight. In addition, the decreased meat and wool production associated causes significant economic losses for the Australian sheep industry. This research project will determine the effectiveness of a serogroup specific vaccination at eliminating footrot from these farms. If deemed to be successful, this vaccine will be able to be applied to all farms where serogroup M is present, and the knowledge used in future footrot studies.