Research into vaccination against ovine Johne's disease in Australia

A review of Australian trials with GUDAIR™ vaccine for control of ovine paratuberculosis in Australian sheep is presented. Vaccination delayed the onset and reduced the incidence of mortalities and faecal shedding of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis by approximately 90%. A rapid decrease in losses occurred in a very high prevalence flock following whole flock vaccination and numerous management changes. Persistent injection lesions were common in vaccinated sheep and although human exposure to the vaccine was uncommon, accidental self-injection of vaccine may produce lesions requiring surgical intervention.