ADVERSE REACTIONS IN CATTLE TO A CAPRIPOX VACCINE

Capripox vaccine (strain 0240) caused severe generalised skin reaction s in vaccinated dairy cattle in two herds, whereas beef cattle did not develop reactions. All the reacting animals developed lumpy skin dise ase-like lesions. The incidence of skin lesions in first-lactation cow s in herd A was 22.9 per cent and in herd B 29.3 per cent, mainly in t he post-calving period. In older cows, the incidence was 10 per cent i n herd A and 12.4 per cent in herd B. In herd B the high-yielding lact ating cows were the most severely affected. There was a decrease of 3. 5 per cent in milk production in each herd over a period of 12 days, a nd six first calving animals (3.5 per cent) and six cows (1.5 per cent ) were slaughtered. A capripox virus was isolated from the animals wit h severe lesions, and was also demonstrated by electron microscopy. Th e histopathological lesions were similar to those of lumpy skin diseas e. The extent of the lesions appeared to be stress-related and, to a l esser degree, correlated with age and breed.