Frozen Cowdria ruminantium-infective sheep blood for the immunisation of cattle, sheep and goats against heartwater.

Frozen Heartwater-infective blood may only be kept on dry ice or in liquid nitrogen (temperatures
below –70 °C). An ordinary household freezer (–18 °C) is not suitable for storage of this vaccine.
Vaccine, which on receipt is completely thawed, is ineffective and must not be used. Frozen
vaccine removed from storage (liquid nitrogen/dry ice) will thaw slowly when put on melting
ice. If kept on melting ice it will be suitable for use for a maximum period of 4 hours. Thawed
vaccine cannot be refrozen for later use.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE
Calves and lambs under the age of three weeks are fairly resistant to the disease and do not react
severely. Such animals should, however, be treated when necessary. In older animals, very severe
reactions can be expected and unless suitably treated, deaths may occur. Since young calves have
a high resistance, it is recommended that they be immunised at this stage.

WARNINGS
Do not slaughter animals for human consumption within 28 days after inoculation.
Vaccinate healthy animals only.
Keep out of reach of children, uninformed persons and animals.
Heartwater blood is not a vaccine in the accepted sense of the word. It is merely sheep's blood
infected with heartwater organisms. The strain of the organism which is being used has been
found particularly suitable for immunisation purposes. Pregnant animals should not be injected
with heartwater-infective blood since severe reactions may cause abortions.
In exceptional cases peracute reactions may occur and animals might die without a temperature
reaction.
In some cases shock may occur during or just after the injection of heartwater blood. Such a
reaction is characterised by laboured breathing, shivering, difficulty in standing and in some
cases the animal may collapse and die. Shock can be prevented to a great extent by letting the
animal lie on its side during and for a short while after the injection but particularly by giving
the injection very slowly.
Although this product has been extensively tested under a large variety of conditions, failure
thereof may ensue as a result of a wide range of reasons. If this is suspected, seek veterinary
advice and notify the registration holder.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Use only as directed.
It must be emphasised that it is essential that the vaccine be administered intravenously (in the neck
vein). If any doubt should exist, seek help and advice from a veterinarian.
Depending on the facilities available for storage and transport of the frozen vaccine, one of the following
methods may be used:
Rapid thawing (Vaccine remains effective for 30 minutes):
• Take the vaccine in the frozen state on dry ice or in liquid nitrogen to the work area.
• Muster the correct number of animals before thawing the vaccine.
• Thaw the vaccine rapidly in lukewarm water (40 °C, approximately body temperature). Gentle
   agitation of the vaccine bottle will reduce the thawing time to approximately 5 minutes.
• Thaw sufficient vaccine only for immediate administration.
• If any delay is experienced during vaccination, the thawed vaccine may be placed on melting
    ice for a maximum period of 30 minutes before administration.

Slow thawing (Vaccine remains effective for 4 hours)
• Frozen vaccine may be removed from storage (liquid nitrogen/dry ice) and put on melting ice and
   then transported to the work area.
• The vaccine will thaw slowly on melting ice, and if kept on melting ice (provided that an excess
   of ice is constantly present in the container) it will be suitable for use for a maximum period of
   4 hours after removal from liquid nitrogen or dry ice.

Sterilise needles and syringes by boiling in water for at least 15 minutes. Do not use disinfectants or
methylated spirits for sterilising syringes or needles. Preferably use a separate needle for each animal.

DOSAGE: 3 ml intravenously for cattle, sheep and goats irrespective of age

EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE
The heartwater reaction can be expected in cattle from the 12 th to the 30 th day and in sheep and goats
from the 8th to the 21st day. Vaccinated animals should be temperatured daily. Treatment should be
applied immediately after the temperature reaction commences. Temperature reactions due to concurrent
infections such as redwater or gallsickness should be eliminated by examination of blood smears.
Heartwater reaction: The best drugs currently available for the treatment of heartwater reactions and
for natural cases of the disease, are the tetracycline antibiotics. Full directions for use will be found on
the container. Treatment should be repeated after 24 hours if the temperature is still up. Animals which
have been immunised by this method will remain immune for life if they are kept on heartwater-infected
veld. The immunity to heartwater is dependent on regular re-infection and animals, immunised while
running on clean veld, may be fully susceptible again after a few months. It is thus essential that such
animals should be moved to a heartwater-infected area within two months after immunisation in order
to ensure re-infection and boosting of the immunity. Immunity, however, cannot be guaranteed in all
animals.

PACKING
Available in bottles of 3 doses and is despatched on dry ice.