Tick Fever

Tick Fever in cattle is preventable by vaccination. Highly effective vaccines are available from the DPI&F to prevent cattle tick fever. Vaccination ('blooding') is a practical way to reduce the risk of losses. Tick fever in Queensland is caused by one of three blood parasites: Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina or Anaplasma marginale.

Choice of vaccines:

Trivalent (3 germ) vaccine

protects against all three causes of tick fever.(Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginate). This is the vaccine of choice when overall protection against tick fever is required.

Combavac 3in1 frozen vaccine stored in liquid nitrogen is also available and has a long shelf life of 5 years. It is becoming popular with large cattle enterprises in remote locations where access to the chilled vaccine is limited.

About the vaccine:

Comes in packs sizes of 10, 20, 50 and 100 doses
4 day shelf life

Storage

Refrigerate at 2-8 degrees (do not freeze)

Doses and administration

2 ml dose given by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection irrespective of size and age of animal

Development of immunity

Full immunity develops within 60 days of administraion

Withholding Period

Nil - Carcass quality may be effected if animals are slaughtered during reaction period

Recommendations for use

Being a live vaccine, cattle may react to the vaccine. Although there is little risk of reactions, it is recommended to monitor cattle during reaction periods
Cattle moving from tick-free country are best vaccinated at least two months before being trucked to a ticky area where they will be exposed to ticks. If this is not possible, cattle should be vaccinated on leaving the tick-free property or as soon as they arrive at their destination. If you vaccinate just before trucking or on arrival these cattle should be kept tick-free before vaccination and for four weeks thereafter, or you will run the risk of the cattle being affected if exposed to cattle ticks prior to developing immunity.
To have solid immunity after vaccinating, the cattle need at least three weeks for the babesias' and eight weeks for anaplasmosis.
Avoid tranporting cattle during reaction periods. Any form of stress (e.g. transport, nutritional) may increase the possibility of vaccine reactions.
Vaccine cattle before dipping. This will avoid abscesses developing at the injection site.