The danger of immunising Boergoats against heartwater
Gruss, B.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 54(1): 67-68
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 1019-9128 PMID: 6631895 Document Number: 214701
Ten 6-toothed Boergoat does and 215 Boergoat kids were injected i/v with the Onderstepoort heartwater blood vaccine (5 ml for adults, 2.5 ml for kids) and body temperature was taken daily. On day 10, all the does had rectal temperatures in excess of 40 degrees C and were treated with oxytetracycline i/v, while the kids received an intramuscular injection of the antibiotic. One kid died from heartwater on day 11. On day 15, 7 does had a febrile reaction and all the does and kids were treated as before. Two does died of heartwater on days 16 and 17 respectively, while 12 kids developed heartwater on day 17 and 6 kids on day 18. All were treated for heartwater. A total of 2 does (20%) and 16 kids (7.4%) died during the experiment.