OBP’s Heartwater vaccine is indicated for preventing the disease in cattle, sheep, goats, deer in endemic areas.

INDICATIONS

• High-Risk Regions: Farms in areas where Heartwater is common and ticks are present.
• Susceptible Breeds: Introducing less resistant cattle (like Bos taurus), sheep (Merino), or goats (Angora, Saanen) into Heartwater zones.
• Breeding Stock: Vaccinating herds before moving them to endemic areas to establish immunity.
• Outbreak Control: Used alongside treatment (tetracyclines) to reduce overall disease burden and mortality during outbreaks. 

• Prevents Mortality: Significantly reduces death rates from Heartwater.
• Reduces Clinical Signs: Protects against fever, loss of appetite, respiratory distress, and neurological signs (circling, convulsions).
• Provides Broad Protection: Some vaccines offer cross-protection against different E. ruminantium strains and tick challenges (laboratory & field). 

ADMINISTRATION

• Route: Intramuscular (IM) injection.
• Species: Effective in cattle, sheep, and Angora goats.
• Dose: Specific doses are used, for example, around 10^4 live elementary bodies (EBs) for smaller ruminants and 10^6 EBs for cattle, with no clinical reaction and full protection.
• Benefits: Simpler and cheaper than the older “infection-treatment” method, requiring no simultaneous antibiotic treatment and offering protection against various strains.