Autogenous CL works by boosting immunity to the specific organism you have on your ranch. A sample of the exudate (pus) from an abscess is collected, then isolated. From this sample, PHL will produce a vaccine that is tailor-made to combat the specific strain(s) which have infected your animals. Autogenous CL is a killed bacterin toxoid which is administered subcutaneously.  It is initially administered in 2 doses, followed by annual (single dose) boosters.  The adult dose is 2cc's and a kid's dose is 0.5 to 1 cc.  Autogenous Goat CL Vaccine is available in two sizes.  The 250 mL bottle contains enough vaccine for 125 adult doses, and the 100 mL bottle contains enough vaccine for 50 adult doses. Since CL is a "killed" vaccine, an annual booster (single dose) vaccination is required. We recommend that the same bottle not be used for second-dose vaccinations or boosters. The time between the first and second vaccination is usually three weeks with 2-4 weeks being acceptable.

Because we produce the vaccine from an isolate which comes from a sample taken from an abscess, to start the process, you must have a goat with an abscess from which you can obtain a sample of pus.  If you currently don't have an animal with an abscess, you must wait until the time comes when you do.  Then you will be able to obtain a sample and the causative organism can be isolated.

The vaccination program should be done under the supervision of an accredited veterinarian.  The name of a veterinarian of record is to be provided with the order.

There are two ways to obtain a sample from the abscess:

One method is to have your veterinarian take the sample and send it to a laboratory which can produce an isolate of the disease organism.  Then he, or the laboratory, can send the isolate to our lab and we can produce the vaccine.

The second, and most preferred, method is to ask us to send you, or your veterinarian, a Sample Collection Kit (click here to see kit).  We have arranged with Idexx Laboratories, one of the world's largest and most respected laboratories, to provide a collection kit for this vaccine.  When you have an animal with an abscess, just contact us and ask to have a collection kit sent to you.  It will arrive via FedEx.  Follow the instructions inside the kit, call the number provided to request a FedEx pick-up, and that's all there is to it.  Within 11 days, Idexx will isolate the organism and deliver it to our laboratory.  Within four to six weeks from that time, we will develop and test the vaccine then ship it to you.  The cost for the collection kit, shipping it to and from you, as well as isolation of the organism and its delivery to our lab, is $98.  Please click on the blue "sample collection kit" link above to see what the kit is like.

Some common questions:

Can you treat pregnant goats?  Since there is a toxoid portion to the vaccine, vaccinating pregnant animals is not recommended.  After the mother has given birth and is healthy, she may be vaccinated at any time.  This is an area that can be discussed with your veterinarian.

Can you treat kids?  Yes, with a smaller dose of 0.5 to 1 cc. Due to variations in the ability of the young animal to develop immunity and the possibility of maternal immunity being present, we recommend to start vaccination at 6 months of age with a second vaccination 3 weeks later, followed by annual boosters. One eminent goat veterinarian suggests vaccinating at 3 and 5 weeks of age with boosters at 6 month intervals.

Should kids be separated from their infected mother? Kids should be separated from infected does at birth, given colostrum from clean does, and raised in a clean area on ‘’clean’’ milk or replacer.

Can you vaccinate the goat with the abscess? Yes, goats with abscesses can be vaccinated and it may help speed recovery. There is no adverse reaction even if recovery is not accelerated and the animal will begin to be protected from future exposures, just like the rest of the herd.

Can you treat goats with antibiotics and other meds when they are going to be, or have been, vaccinated? Yes,  treating the animals prior to, during or after vaccination will not be a problem. Autogenous products are "killed" meaning the bacteria in the product are dead.

If a goat is infected with CL and it recovers, will it develop a natural immunity to the disease (without ever being vaccinated)?  Full immunity is rare for this organism. Once established in a herd, caseous lymphadenitis is difficult to eliminate. Even goats in which abscesses are properly lanced and treated will often have recurrences, and environmental contamination leads to infection of other goats in the herd.

What studies have been done and what results can we predict?  There are no formal studies, or results. Such studies are not required for autogenous vaccines. Part of the reason is that they would be difficult to correlate, since samples are taken from different herds for each individual vaccine. All we can say is that we have been successfully producing autogenous vaccines for 45 years. We've been producing this CL Vaccine for goats for about three years and have not had a single report of a problem. During this time, we have had many reports of success and positive recommendations given from one rancher to another.

How do I get a sample from the abscess?  You, or your veterinarian, can lance the abscess and rub the collection swab in the pus portion of the abscess.  Or, you can use a large bore needle (14g or below) to get a pus sample and then apply it to the collection swab.  Sample Collection Kit (click here to see kit).

How is the vaccine administered?  The injections are subcutaneous.  It is important that you don't inject into a muscle because it would likely cause pain, prolonged limping and other potential problems.  A good injection site would be high on the neck, as close to the head as possible.

Where should I inject?  In general, a good injection site is high on the neck, as close to the head as possible. For show goats, there is a possibility of swelling at the injection site, so a person may want to show them before vaccinating or choose another site where swelling may not be visible, should it occur. As long as it is given subcutaneously, the location doesn’t matter much. Should there be a reaction, a dependent (on the underside of the goat) site to allow for drainage is preferred.

Does the injection cause a lump (a concern for show goats)?  We use an aluminum hydroxide adjuvant, rather than oil, so the possibility of swelling at the injection site is greatly reduced, but it is possible that lumps may appear at the injection site with some goats.

About how long will it take to produce the vaccine and how long can it be stored unopened? We can produce the vaccine in four to six weeks from the time the isolate is received in our laboratories. It can be stored unopened and under refrigeration for up to 18 months.

How long before the vaccine protects the goats?  Immunity development varies from animal to animal, but is usually apparent by 3 weeks after the second vaccination. Remember however, the vaccine must be used in conjunction with good management practices.

How long does the vaccine protect the animal?  With killed vaccines there is no lifetime immunity. An annual booster (single dose) is required.

Are there any side effects associated with this vaccine?  As with any vaccination, there is always a chance of an allergic response, but to date, no reports of this type of reaction have been reported with this vaccine.  Some goats may become a bit sluggish for 2-4 days post-vaccination.  Also, there is the possibility of a small injection site lump forming, which should disappear within 21 days.  Each individual animal's immune system is different, and therefore, each animal may react a bit differently.

Will a vaccinated animal test positive for CL?  Probably, because the vaccine contains killed Coryne bacteria which test as being present.

What is the slaughter withdrawal period?  The CL vaccine label specifies not to slaughter within 21 days of vaccination.

What if my herd has infected goats from different areas?  Most ranchers choose to have a vaccine made from one isolate.  Chances, this vaccine will protect the entire herd.  But, if abscesses continue to occur, you can take separate samples from up to three different goats and have up to three isolates made.  If you use our Sample Collection Kit (click here to see kit), you must ask to have separate culture swabs included when you order the kit.  The charges will be $98 per isolate for the isolation.  The rest of the charges will remain the same.  From these isolates, we will make a single "cocktail" vaccine for you.  If you need more than three isolates, please contact us for additional costs.

How can I get more vaccine made for me in the future? Federal law, related to autogenous vaccines, allows us to store non-California isolates for 15 months (3 years for California isolates). During that time, we can make more batches of vaccine for you. Since you may store the finished vaccine for up to 18 months (under refrigeration), before our isolate storage time expires, you may choose to order the maximum amount of vaccine you could use within 18 months. You could order enough to vaccinate your goats with their annual booster (if not already ordered), as well as enough additional vaccine to vaccinate your goats with two more injections (9 months apart) during the next eighteen months. Doing so, will allow a total of 3 1/2 years of protection for your herd. When used along with other precautions and procedures recommended by your veterinarian, this should be enough time to get the CL under control. If CL reappears in the future, then you may obtain a new sample and begin the program again.

How do I pay for the vaccine and Sample Collection Kit?  We accept MasterCard and VISA credit cards.  You may charge the collection kit and vaccine order to a credit card, or send us a personal check.  Please note, if you're paying by check, please allow enough time for us to receive your payment before you need the kit, or vaccine, shipped to you.

How do I order the Sample Collection Kit?  To initiate your order for a Sample Collection Kit, you may either CLICK HERE TO INITIATE YOUR COLLECTION KIT ORDER ONLINE, or call our toll-free number: 1-877-566-7722.

What does the vaccine cost?  In order to get pricing information, either fill in the form below to have it emailed to you, or call us at 1-877-566-7722.

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If you have further questions, please email us using the email button at the top of the page, or call us toll-free at 1-877-566-7722.

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CLICK HERE TO INITIATE YOUR COLLECTION KIT ORDER ONLINE

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