Calf Talk

March, 2006

Volume 12, No. 3

WAYS TO USE SRP VACCINE

By: Russ Schnepper; D.V.M

I am writing this newsletter on Salmonella again, as it continues to be a major problem and there are many misconceptions about the vaccines and treatment, etc. SRP Vaccine is a purified Salmonella newport bacterial extract of siderophore receptor and porin proteins in an oil based-antigen. In effect the vaccine blocks the salmonella organism from absorbing iron. Without iron the salmonella organism dies.

I had been reluctant to replace the Endovac bovi with the SRP vaccine in our calf program. Now I feel it will replace the Endovac for the salmonella protection. It protects for all the usual salmonellae such as typhimurium, dublin and newport. If you are using Endovac bovi for Pasteurella or for pink eye, continue to use it as the SRP does nothing for those disease conditions. Endovac bovi causes the animal to develop antibodies against the endotoxins that are produced by Gram negative organisms (like Salmonella, E.coli, Pasteurella, and Moraxella bovis - the pink eye pathogen,)

I would vaccinate newly purchased calves with 1 ml of SRP vaccine upon arrival and then again 2 to 4 weeks later. In some highly stressed calves you can give ½ ml at a time and then repeat it in 5 days. Giving injections less than 7 days apart does not give an amnestic response, which results in a higher titer to the vaccine. So it is imperative to vaccinate again in 2 to 4 weeks to get the longer lasting effect of the vaccine.

Calves that are born to cows that have been well vaccinated with SRP, may have colostral antibodies interfere with the immune response to the vaccine. In these calves it is necessary to be sure to revaccinate after the calves are over a month of age.

The large problem with salmonella infections is the animal remains a carrier and will shed live salmonella organisms for months after it has recovered. The animals acts like the proverbial “typhoid Mary.” The organism is in the feces, all the body secretions and on post mortem, salmonella can usually be isolated from most body tissues. The feces gets in dust and is blown around, gets in the water troughs, is dragged around by people and equipment. Clean up after a salmonella outbreak is very difficult. One advantage to the effect of the SRP Vaccine is it appears to reduce the shedding of the salmonella organism and hence the spread of the disease. This makes clean up easier.

A macrophage (one of the immune system white blood cells) consumes the salmonella organism and the salmonella will live and multiply inside the macrophage cell. This is one thing that makes it difficult to kill the salmonella with antibiotics.

We have been successful using SRP vaccine for treatment of salmonella. Vaccination usually stops the disease within a few days. SRP is an excellent new tool for a very difficult disease.

Contact information for ordering information and questions about our products:

Schnepper International, Inc.

3210 County B, Platteville, WI 53818

608-348-6141, Fax: 608-348-6146