Frozen Babesia bigemina-infective bovine blood for the immunisation of cattle against the African form
of redwater.

Frozen redwater vaccine may only be kept on dry ice or in liquid nitrogen (temperatures
below than -70°ßC). An ordinary household freezer (-18°ßC) 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:
Since this vaccine contains only one of the redwater parasites it is important that you should know which
of the two species causes problems in your area and then use the appropriate vaccine.
The African form of redwater has a wide distribution since it is transmitted by both blue tick species. One
of the blue tick species occurs virtually throughout the entire country and is only absent in the drier parts
of the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces, Western Free State and in the higher-lying areas of the
Drakensberg and Lesotho.

CALVES:
In the areas where the blue ticks occur all calves should be vaccinated at approximately 6 months of
age (between 3 and 9 months). This age group shows only mild reactions which normally require no
treatment, but daily supervision during the expected reaction period is strongly recommended.

ADULT CATTLE:
The vaccination of adult animals is labour intensive and demands strict supervision. It is advisable not
to inoculate more animals than can conveniently be handled at a time, because rectal temperatures must
be taken daily from the 5 th to the 21 st day after inoculation.
The vaccine may cause anaemia and fever. Avoid subjecting the animals to any form of stress, such as
rough handling or driving them over long distances, during the expected reaction period.
Under normal circumstances only a single vaccination is sufficient.
Asiatic redwater (Babesia bovis) vaccine and Anaplasmosis vaccine may also safely be administered
with this vaccine.

WARNINGS
Do not slaughter animals for human consumption within 7 days of vaccination.
Vaccinate healthy animals only.
Keep out of reach of children, uninformed persons and animals.
The organisms in the vaccine are less virulent than most natural strains, but even so,
some animals may react severely. It is especially European breeds, imported cattle,
and older animals in general, that may require treatment. Pregnant animals may abort
and cows in milk will suffer production losses if not treated in time.
Although this product has been extensively tested under a wide range of conditions,
failure thereof may ensue as a result of a number of reasons. If this is suspected, seek
veterinary advice and notify the registration holder.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Use only as directed.
Depending on the facilities available for storage and transport of the frozen vaccine, one of the following
methods can 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 cattle 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 either syringes or needles. Preferably use a separate needle for each
animal.

DOSAGE: 1 ml intramuscularly, irrespective of age or body mass

EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE
Strict daily supervision is normally recommended for approximately 3 weeks after inoculation. Animals
may start to develop fever from the 5 th day after inoculation. Although it is not necessary to take daily
temperatures of calves, they must still be watched closely for any signs of illness from the 5 th day after
inoculation, for approximately 16 days.
Body temperatures of 40 °C and higher, or any other signs of illness, may indicate the onset of a severe
reaction and such animals must be treated without delay to prevent possible deaths. Immunity develops
4 to 6 weeks after inoculation. In the case of African redwater the immunity is apparently short-lived;
exposure to infected ticks in the field is essential to maintain the immunity. However, immunity cannot
be guaranteed in all animals.

TREATMENT
The use of drugs to control redwater vaccine reactions or natural redwater outbreaks is very critical and
strict attention must be paid to this aspect to ensure successful immunisation against redwater.
Drugs containing diminazene are recommended for the treatment of redwater vaccine reactions and
should only be considered in animals that show any or more of the progessively deteriorating signs of
illness such as high fever, depression, poor apetite, discolouration of the urine and pale mucous membranes.
Block treatment of vaccine infections with diminazene (at any stage of the reaction) influences the
anticipated immunity due to the sterilising effect that the drug has by killing the parasites resulting in no
or short-lived immunity.
If long-acting drugs containing imidocarb or diminazene are used to treat adult cattle prophylactically
during natural redwater outbreaks, these animals should be vaccinated only after the drugs have been
broken down by the animal’s system and excreted, because its residual effect will neutralise the vaccine.
Consult Onderstepoort Biological Products or the local veterinarian for precise details, because it may
take as long as 6 months before revaccination with African redwater vaccine can be recommended.

PACKING
Available in bottles of 5 doses.