Gudair Zoetis

Gudair

Gudair is a one-shot-for-life vaccine, for the prevention of clinical disease caused by Ovine Johnes Disease (OJD); and will aid in the reduction of shedding of the OJD bacteria by up to 90%.

It is registered for both sheep and goats, and is made by Zoetis

Dose rate – 1ml for any age of sheep or goat

It comes in 100ml + 250ml

This vaccine is usually given early in life, at marking time (see below for more comments)

There is no ESI or withhold

OJD:

* Long running bacterial infection - thickens the intestines over time, at the end the sheep or goat is eating like crazy but taking in no nutrients

* Spreads through contaminated faeces of infected animals, mainly by pooping directly onto pastures, or by movement of faeces/bacteria in floodwater and contamination of dams and other wet areas (the bacteria survives best in moist/wet conditions)

* The bacteria can survive up to 55 weeks or longer in ideal wet conditions

* OJD is incurable & irreversible

*It can take 2-5 years from first ingesting the bacteria, until a sheep starts to waste away

Clinical Signs:

* 9 months after initial ingestion of the bacteria, sheep will start to shed the bacteria in their faeces, therefore adding to the bacteria load on the property

* After being infected with the bacteria, most sheep will look fine until they start to waste away 2-5 years later – they are usually dead within 3-6 weeks of beginning to emaciate

* Sometimes sheep will have scours and a bottle jaw combined with the emaciation in the last few weeks before death

GUDAIR NEEDS INCREDIBLE CARE AND SAFETY

***MUST ONLY BE USED WITH THE GUDAIR SEKURUS SAFETY VACCINATOR

** And only with 18G 1/4" needles***

Gudair contains a mineral oil adjuvant that will react badly inside a human

IF SELF INJECTED, THIS VACCINE INJECTED MUST BE REMOVED BY SURGERY ASAP – this is not optional, a producer must go directly to the closest emergency department, taking the box and label with them, and call Zoetis for help and advice – 1800 814 883

There is adverse human event information contained on the Zoetis website, within the product information for Gudair.

* Vaccinate lambs 4 to 16 weeks of age, ideally at marking time, even if a small portion of the lambs are under 4 weeks but extra care should be taken if vaccinating lambs 2-4 weeks of age.

* Vaccinating early in life ensures the vaccine will work best, as this give the best chance the vaccine can provide protection PRIOR to exposure to the bacteria

* When lambs are vaccinated prior to 16 weeks of age, they can have a V in a circle added to their eartag to signify they are an approved vaccinate

* Any age of sheep can be vaccinated, but there will be reduced efficacy if sheep are already infected with the bacteria

* If sheep are vaccinated over 16 weeks of age they cannot be marked with a V on their tag

* Vaccinating sheep older than marking age will mean extra care must be taken, as safety is compromised with sheep in a raceway being more of a risk for self injection

*The same adjuvant that is nasty in humans, can also cause injection site reactions (hard lumps) in sheep. Many of these lumps will go down or completely go away over time, but vaccination technique – achieving a subcutaneous result and correct placement of vaccine will help considerably to reduce the size and incidence of these site reactions.

* Inject approx 50mm from the ear, down side of neck, to inject subcutaneously along the side neck muscle, therefore avoiding critical structure of the head and neck (refer to Gudair technical update on correct injection site)

* ONLY use 18g x 1/4" needles.

* Inject at a 60-45deg angle for lambs and adult sheep off-shears or other sheep with short wool (under 2 moths)

* Inject at a 90 degree angle for adult sheep with more than 2 months of wool

* Change needle every 100, or if it becomes dirty or blunted

* If using two vaccines on the same day as Gudair, always place other vaccines on the opposite side of the neck to Gudair.