Orf Virus Vaccines
Contagious Pustular Dermatitis Vaccine for Sheep and Goats

Key Benefits:

• Immunization of lambs, sheep and goats against Scabby Mouth Disease (Contagious Pustular Dermatitis; Orf).
• Allows easy control of the disease
• User friendly applicator
• Long shelf life
• Animals remain healthy throughout the vaccination period

Indication for Use:

• Vaccination against Orf virus is indicated wherever there has been or there is an outbreak of Scabby Mouth Disease.
• All animals should be vaccinated.

Applicator Variations:

• Phenax Classic® (New Zealand)
  - Traditional style applicator
  - Secure anti-roll twist top
  - Re-sealable leak proof 150 dose vial
• Scabivax™ (Ireland)
  - Traditional style applicator
  - Double cap system
  - Re-sealable leak proof 50 dose vial
• Scabine® (New Zealand)
  - Traditional style applicator
  - Double cap system
  - Re-sealable leak proof 150 dose vial

Dosage and Administration:

Dosage
Normally one vaccination is sufficient to provide immunity for the life of the animals. However in circumstances where a severe and constant disease risk exists, booster doses should be given at 5 to 6 monthly intervals.

Site of Vaccination
The recommended site of vaccination on young lambs ( less than six(6) weeks old ) is on the bare area of skin between the top of the fore leg and the chest wall, as this area is seldom nuzzled by other lambs or ewes. Often lambs are vaccinated at docking time and a convenient site of inoculation is on the skin of the inner aspect of the thigh.

The scratch on the skin is made as a cross with each arm 3-5cm in length and should be sufficiently deep to ensure the surface is broken and that the vaccine is deposited in the scratch. If the vaccine has been correctly applied the vaccine coloration should be apparent along the entire length of each scratch.

Response to Vaccination
Between 7-10 days after vaccination a random sample of the flock should be examined to ensure that there has been a satisfactory vaccine "take".

This appears as a raised area of the skin, which appears as a more or less continuous line of pustules along the track of the scratch.

After 3-4 weeks scabs form and drop off and the vaccination site is fully healed.

Key Recommendations:

Take care over the scratching procedure and carefully follow the manufacturers instructions. Make sure the "scratching" is carried out by a responsible and well-trained operator.

If a Scabby Mouth outbreak does occur, immediately separate the infected from the non-infected animals. Vaccinate the non-infected stock and put them out into "clean" pastures (that is an area that has not had stock on it for some weeks). Treat the Scabby Mouth infected animals with an appropriate disinfectant, such as Virkon.

Stability:

The vaccine must be stored for short periods in a well-maintained refrigerator. Refer to the relevant instruction leaflet for detailed storage conditions.

Vaccine Contains:

A suspension of virus in an applicator suitable for scratching on a bare piece of skin. The presentation of the virus will be not less than 100 MID per dose.

Background:

The disease, Scabby Mouth (contagious pustular dermatitis, ecthyma Orf), is caused by infection with Orf virus.

The epidemiology of Orf virus is not well understood but it is known that Orf virus shed from scab material can remain infective for several years.

The portal of entry is generally through the lips and occurs when the animals are eating roughage such as thistles. However, the virus is highly infectious and will infect other areas of exposed and broken skin.

The infection is limited to epithelial and oral tissue and systemic infections do not occur. The only effective method of controlling infection is by vaccination with live virus.

In New Zealand and Ireland it is now common practice to vaccinate against Orf virus. Vaccination is with a live virus preparation and can be carried out on animals at any age. Generally, one vaccination is sufficient to give immunity.

Operator Precautions:

Orf is transmittable to man. Therefore, care should be taken when handling and using the vaccine. Vaccinators should wear gloves during vaccination and the hands and arms should be carefully washed after vaccination has been completed.