Clostridial vaccine

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 bacteria.^[1] Clostridial vaccines are often administered to pregnant ewes a few weeks before they are due to give birth, in order to give passive immunity to their lambs.^[1] Clostridial bacteria multiply rapidly in infected sheep, and produce large amounts of toxin which can cause the sheep to die within hours.^[2]

Clostridial vaccines can contain anti-toxins to one or more endotoxins produced by the following bacteria:^[1]

• Clostridium chauvoei
• Clostridium haemolyticum
• 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.^[3]