Latest news with #Cryptosporidiumparvum
Agriland
04-08-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Cryptosporidiosis vaccine tackles calving season challenge for Co. Down farmer
Bovilis Cryptium vaccine from MSD Animal Health protects calves from crypto scour. When Beattie Lilburn experienced his first case of cryptosporidiosis scour during calving last November, he knew prompt action was required to protect his calves. Acting quickly on veterinary advice, Beattie turned to Bovilis Cryptium, the cryptosporidiosis vaccine from MSD Animal Health, to help bring the outbreak under control. Beattie, along with his wife Margaret and sons David and Reggie, run a 280-cow Holstein herd at Hillcrest Farm near Lisburn, Co. Down. The family farms approximately 300ac of grassland, 200ac of combinable crops, and 35ac of beans, with calving taking place between September 1 and the end of March. Beattie recalls how quickly things changed on the farm. He said: 'We had about 50 cows left to calve when the crypto outbreak hit last November. We'd never had a problem with it previously, but we knew we had to deal with it as quickly as possible.' Beattie said he immediately contacted his vet, Joy Crawford from Lisburn Vets, who gave him advice and recommended Bovilis Cryptium. 'We wasted no time getting started – we vaccinated the 50 cows that were still due to calve." "For the calves already affected, we gave an oral drench once a day for seven consecutive days to manage the scour, as well as using a strict hygiene and disinfection protocol for the calving pens and calf shed. "After that, the rest of the calves arrived safely and we had no further problems," Beattie said. Bovilis Cryptium is the first and only vaccine to protect calves against cryptosporidiosis. It works by raising specific antibodies in the cow before calving, which are passed to the calf through colostrum and transition milk when fed for a minimum of five days. This provides the calf with passive immunity against Cryptosporidium parvum during the first two weeks of life, when they are most vulnerable to the disease. The primary course of Bovilis Cryptium consists of two doses of 2ml, given under the skin, four to five weeks apart. These vaccinations must be completed between 12 and three weeks before calving. After that, a single booster dose is given 12 to three weeks before each subsequent calving. Beattie said: 'We'll be starting to dry off in July, and we'll be vaccinating the rest of the herd so that everything is covered for the upcoming calving season. "The 50 cows we vaccinated back in November with the primary course will just need their booster vaccine, while the remaining 230 cows and heifers will receive the full two dose primary course.' Beattie also vaccinates his herd with Bovilis Rotavec Corona, a single dose vaccination given to the cow 12 to three weeks before calving to passively provide protection to calves from diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, coronavirus and E. coli via adequate colostrum and transition milk feeding. Bovilis Rotavec Corona can conveniently be given on the same day as Bovilis Cryptium. The vaccines should be given at different sites. Both vaccines are available in 5, 20 and 50 dose packs and both have a 28-day shelf life once opened. 'While farmers always want to avoid outbreaks, having now faced that situation and dealt with it, we've got great confidence in Bovilis Cryptium after seeing the job it did for us," Beattie said. "I would recommend Bovilis Cryptium to farmers without any hesitation. 'Once we got into calving those cows that we'd vaccinated in November, the problem disappeared – we had no more calves with crypto for the rest of the season." The Co. Down farmer said that using Bovilis Cryptium on the advice of his vet "really helped bring everything back into line for us". He added: 'The old saying still applies, prevention is better than cure. The hassle created by calves scouring during the middle of the calving season remains the nightmare scenario because it's so difficult to clear up. "Given that most of our calving happens between September and the end of December, we're naturally keen to avoid any outbreak of disease during such a tight timeframe. "After what we had to deal with in November, Bovilis Cryptium whole herd vaccination was an easy decision to make." The management of calf scour on farm requires a multifactorial approach with adequate colostrum management, hygiene, nutrition and husbandry being essential in reducing the risk of disease. Speak to your veterinary practitioner for advice on what vaccination and therapeutic options will help to provide the best results on your farm.
Western Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Four in five dairy farms battling cryptosporidiosis
A study conducted at Harper Adams University found that 84% of surveyed farmers had dealt with cryptosporidiosis outbreaks, with nearly 60% rating the severity as 7 or higher, with 10 being the most severe. The survey of 63 farmers from across the UK in spring 2024 highlighted financial losses ranging from £300 to £30,000, with 68% of respondents citing financial strain due to increased vet bills, extended rearing times, and lower sale values. Almost three-quarters (70%) of respondents said affected calves were less profitable, with poor growth rates being the most common reason. This mirrors other UK studies, which show that calves infected within the first 16 days of life gained significantly less weight over six months, leading to a potential £161 reduction in sale price per calf . Additional costs include increased labour for managing sick calves. Cryptosporidiosis occurs when calves ingest the parasitic protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), which produces vast numbers of encysted eggs (oocysts) shed in the faeces of infected animals. Calves between five days and two weeks of age are most affected, with symptoms including colic (gut pain), reduced feed intake, watery scour, and dehydration. The latest study was prompted by BSc Animal Production Science graduate Alice Powell, now a Ruminant Sales Specialist at Massey Feeds—a company offering specialist feed and milk products to support calf health—after witnessing the devastating effects of C. parvum first-hand. 'On one of the farms I worked at, there were a lot of calf deaths due to C. parvum, and the calves were severely dehydrated. You could just smell it in the sheds. After testing, they found they had C. parvum, so they became very strict about cleaning, disinfecting, and colostrum management.' Ms Powell says the farm even invested in new calf accommodation with non-permeable surfaces that were easier to clean and disinfect. Her study revealed gaps in biosecurity and prevention. Some of the measures ranked as most important also had a high number of farmers stating they were not important. For example, 28 farmers considered thorough cleaning of feeding equipment very important, while 18 disagreed, stating it was not important. However, four in five farmers reported cleaning and disinfecting after an outbreak. More than half of respondents were using preventive measures, with cleaning equipment, good colostrum management, and correct calving protocols ranked as the most effective. One issue raised was that many farmers were either using the wrong disinfectant or unaware that only certain disinfectants are effective against cryptosporidiosis. Having the correct electrolyte protocol is also crucial. Some farmers mentioned adding electrolytes to milk, but this can affect the osmolality in the calf's digestive system, leading to dehydration rather than rehydration. Electrolytes must be provided separately from milk feeds,' she said. Dr Kat Baxter-Smith from MSD Animal Health highlights the multifactorial nature of managing infectious calf scour, adding: 'No single solution exists, but good biosecurity, vaccination, nutrition, and hygiene help minimise disease problems.' Demand for new vaccine The research also gauged awareness of Bovilis Cryptium®, the first-ever vaccine for cryptosporidiosis. At the time of the survey, it was not yet available in the UK, having only been launched in late 2024. However, 81% of respondents who were aware of it said they would use it if it became available. Farmers cited better calf welfare, reduced mortality, and improved productivity as key reasons for wanting access to the vaccine. Administered to pregnant cows in the third trimester, the vaccine requires two doses given 4–5 weeks apart, with the final dose completed at least three weeks before calving. For subsequent pregnancies, a single booster dose is required. The vaccine can also be administered alongside Bovilis® Rotavec® Corona, which protects against rotavirus, coronavirus, and E. coli K99. 'By vaccinating cows in late pregnancy, antibodies against C. parvum are raised in colostrum, reducing clinical signs of disease in newborn calves. Calves should receive at least three litres of colostrum within six hours of birth and all calves should be fed colostrum and transition milk during the first five days of life. "Calves gain protection against these pathogens by drinking the fortified colostrum from their vaccinated mothers,' explained Dr Baxter-Smith. 'When used alongside excellent colostrum management and strict hygiene, vaccination can significantly improve calf health and farm efficiency,' she added. Farmers interested in further information should contact their local veterinary professional.
