1. Livestock Biosecurity Network
Vibriosis
Dr Sarah-Jane Wilson
Regional Manager
Northern Australia
June 2015

2. Vibriosis/Campylobacteriosis
Cattle
Venereal disease (mating or AI)
Bulls – bacteria present in prepuce, penis and semen
Cows – Reproductive tract
Sheep
Spread by ingestion of contaminated water or feed (placental/aborted material, faeces)

3. Clinical signs Cattle: No obvious signs in bulls
In cows – abortion and infertility
Cows returning to oestrus
Low conception and/or calving rates
Sheep:
Abortions
Extended breeding season.
Low lambing rates
Poor milk supply
Weak and dying lambs

4. Prevention
* Vaccinate bulls (and cows) annually (2 shot initial course)
* Vaccination should be given 4 weeks before joining.
* Use CHS to demonstrate pre-purchase vaccinations in bulls
* Culling older bulls
Vaccination regimes:
1. Do not vaccinate
2. Vaccinate all bulls
3. Vaccinate all heifers
4. Vaccinate all bulls and heifers
5. Vaccinate all bulls, heifers and cows.

5. MLA disease prioritisation study:
Estimated annual economic cost of the priority diseases for cattle in Australia
Source: Lane et al (2015), p6.

6. Vaccination options: Sheep
1. Maiden ewes
2. Ewe lambs if joining them
3. Annual booster to adult ewes on stud properties.
Initially 2 doses 4 – 6 weeks apart pre joining, yearly booster (for studs)

7. Prevention:
Running maiden ewes with older ewes before mating (for exposure)
Protect water supplies from contamination
Biosecurity measures for introduced animals
pre-purchase vaccinations,
induction protocols including quarantine,
predator control.

8. Questions??? Sarah-Jane Wilson – sjwilson@lbn.org.au

9. Other resources on vaccinations
vaccines
FutureBeef – for-beef-cattle/

10. Photo credits and references
Slide 3:
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Slide 6: Fitzpatrick,S. (2006) Botulism Poisoning in Cattle in the Northern Territory, viewed online at
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Slide 11: Lane et al (2015), Priority list of endemic diseases for the red meat industries. Meat and Livestock Australia, Sydney.
Slide 13: Lane et al (2015), Priority list of endemic diseases for the red meat industries. Meat and Livestock Australia, Sydney.
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