Typing of Campylobacter fetus fetus isolated from sheep abortions in N.Z.

Authors: Wallace GV, Orbell WG, McNerney DM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 7, pp 107, Jul 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Abortion/stillbirth, Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Bacterial, Zoonosis, Infectious disease, Reproduction, Immune system/immunology, Reproduction - female, Disease/defect, Species description, Vaccination, Public health
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: We are concerned that the letter from Collins and de Lisle, reporting their R.E. analysis findings on a number of specially selected Campylobacter fetus fetus isolates, may be incorrectly interpreted by some veterinarians. In the South Island, the area of highest incidence, the current position is that strain 5915, the vaccine strain, is responsible for about 80% of Campylobacter fetus fetus abortions while strain 7438 is responsible for about 15%. Thus, the statement concerning the vaccine strain as the “second most common type”, refers only to those isolates tested by the authors and specifically chosen in that some did not react against the vaccine strain. In the North Island where such selectivity was not utilised, only one type E and one type B did not react with vaccine antisera. It is also noted that the work of Border and Firehammer applies to cattle rather than sheep, and the reference to the work of Quinlivan and Jopp does not in fact show that the vaccine was “partially effective”…

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