Fusoguard

Season-long
footrot control
Designed
specifically
for cattle
SubQ
administration
Safe, inactivated
bacterin
SuprImm ®
adjuvant system
enhances DOI
Easy to handle,
economical and
convenient
FUSOGARD
®
Fusobacterium necrophorum Bacterin
FUSOGARD ® Fusobacterium
necrophorum Bacterin, the first
F. necrophorum bacterin to help protect
cattle against footrot, was designed with
economics, convenience, beef quality
assurance and solid disease protection in
mind. Manufactured and marketed by
Novartis Animal Vaccines, Inc., FUSOGARD
provides the protection and safety of an
inactivated bacterin while delivering seasonlong
footrot protection.
Benefits of FUSOGARD
• Effective, season-long footrot protection.
• Eliminates antibiotic use.
• Enhances potential profitability.
• Cost-effective.
• Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) friendly
with subcutaneous (SubQ) injection.
FOOTROT
Footrot is an infectious cattle disease that
causes swelling and lameness in one or
more feet. Although the disease is rarely
fatal, the economic loss from treatment and
the decrease in weight gains and production
potential is substantial.
The pathogenic agent identified as the
primary cause of footrot is Fusobacterium
necrophorum. Although it cannot penetrate
Advanced Science from Novartis Animal Vaccines, Inc.
FUSOGARD ® ... YOUR PROVEN
ADVANTAGE AGAINST FOOTROT
intact, healthy skin, the organism takes
advantage of abrasions or puncture wounds
in the foot region. It enters through the
abrasion or puncture wound and lives in
the rumen.
Factors that predispose cattle to infection
include abrasive surfaces, stones, frozen or
dried mud, stubble and wet pens or bedding
areas.
If treatment of footrot is delayed, the disease
can easily become chronic with a low
prognosis for recovery. Delay in treatment
also allows for deeper structures of the foot
to become infected.
ECONOMICS
Lameness is one of the most costly problems
producers face. When footrot strikes and
lameness follows, production and profitability
decrease.
Feedyard Cattle Costs – Extensive
lameness studies by the University of
Nebraska reveal the potential loss
associated with lameness in a feedyard.
In the University of Nebraska study, lame
cattle were, on average, sold 85 days after
their arrival and weighed only 10 lbs. more

at time of sale than their
entry weight. The total
loss per lame animal was
$121 per head ($14.28
for feed cost for salvaged
animals, $4.96 for
medication and $101.76
loss in value to all lame
animals from the sale of
the salvaged animals).
The loss per head purchased
amounted to $2.54
– which increased the
cost of gain by $0.50/cwt.
Additionally, records
from five large Western
feedyards showed that
lameness accounted for
16% of cattle treated for
health problems and 5%
of deaths of feedyard
animals.
Cow/Calf, Stocker
Costs – Economic
losses are also seen in
grazing cattle that get
footrot. A three-year study
conducted by Kansas State
University showed that
footrot-affected steers
gained just 2.3 lbs./day
while steers not infected
with F. necrophorum
gained 2.76 lbs./day.
That’s a 0.46 lb./head/day
loss! (And this loss is
preventable.)
Dairy Costs – Cornell
University researchers
estimate that lameness
FIGURE 1: Lameness Score
Days Post-Challenge
FIGURE 2: Soft Tissue Swelling Score
Days Post-Challenge
FIGURE 3: Abscessation Score
Days Post-Challenge
Control
Vaccinate
Control
Vaccinate
Control
Vaccinate
0 = None 1 = Mild 2 = Moderate 3 = Severe 4 = Holds foot up
(of which footrot is
considered a major factor)
costs dairy producers $346
per episode. This includes
additional days open,
involuntary culling and
an average of 750 lbs.
of lost milk production.
Michigan State University
researchers showed
conclusively that lame
cows were:
• 3 times more likely
than their nonlame
herdmates to exceed
the herd average for
days to first service.
• 16 times more likely
to exceed the herd
average for days open.
• 16 times more likely
to exceed the herd
average for days in the
breeding herd than
nonlame cows.
• 9 times more likely
to exceed the herd
average for services
per pregnancy.
• 8 times more likely
to be culled.
EFFICACY
STUDIES
DOCUMENT
SUPERIOR
PERFORMANCE
Extensive tests have
been conducted by
Novartis to demonstrate
the effectiveness of
FUSOGARD Bacterin.
One trial involved 30 calves: 20 of the
commingled calves were vaccinated
SubQ with FUSOGARD (F. necrophorum)
Bacterin and 10 were not vaccinated
with FUSOGARD Bacterin. The
vaccinated calves were administered
2 mL of F. necrophorum Bacterin at
Day 0 and Day 21.
At Day 35 of the trial (14 days postsecond
vaccination), all calves were
challenged with a highly virulent strain
(2X10 8 CFU/mL) of F. necrophorum.
This challenge was greater than what
animals would ordinarily encounter in
the field.

During the 19 days post-challenge
study, all calves in the trial were
clinically evaluated for lameness,
joint/soft tissue swelling and
abscessation.
Trial Results
Vaccinated Calves
• Only 3 of the 30 vaccinated calves
showed mild lameness at 24 hours
post-challenge. These three
completely recovered by 16 days
post-challenge.
• Vaccinated animals showed no
temperature spikes post-challenge.
Only 3 of the 30 vaccinated calves
displayed mild swelling, and this
completely resolved before the end
of the trial period.
Nonvaccinated Calves
• All nonvaccinated calves showed
severe lameness at 24 hours post-
challenge (Figure 1). Lameness did
not resolve during the trial period.
• All nonvaccinated animals had
mild fevers (≥104°F) 4 to 5 days
post-challenge.
• All nonvaccinated calves exhibited
severe swelling (Figure 2) and
abscessation (Figure 3).
Efficacy Trial Conclusions
The study clearly indicates that
FUSOGARD protects cattle against a
virulent strain of F. necrophorum, as
evidenced by significantly reduced
lameness, soft tissue swelling and
abscessation.
The vaccinated group recovered
quickly without antibiotic treatment.
The nonvaccinated animals expressed
chronic, severe infections that
remained throughout the trial. These
animals required antibiotic treatment
at the end of the trial.
FIGURE 4: Summary of Field Safety Trials
“When we consider the cost of vaccinating
vs. the cost of treatment, cost of labor to pull
an animal, stress and lost weight gain or lost
genetic expression, vaccinating for footrot
should be standard protocol for feedyards and
cow/calf producers. Vaccinating helps eliminate
antibiotic use – a major concern in the industry.
I recommend FUSOGARD ® Bacterin to my
customers and use it in my own cow/calf herd.
I know that it works.”
– James Unwin, D.V.M., Red Barn Vet Clinic, Oakland, Neb.
First Dose
Second Dose
Trial # # Animals #/Nodule % #/Nodule %
1 200 15 7.5 7
2 189 0 0 7
3 208 7 3.3 12
3.5
3.7
5.8
SAFETY –
THE CORNERSTONE
OF PERFORMANCE
Safety trials involving 597 mixedbreed
cattle were conducted at three
locations: Idaho, South Dakota and
Nebraska. Each animal received a
single 2-mL SubQ injection, followed
by a booster, administered according
to label directions. At 3 to 5 days postvaccination,
each calf was palpated
at the injection site for signs of swelling,
pain or evidence of inflammation
and/or abscessation (Figure 4).
Trial #1 Results
This trial involved 200 head of
mixed-breed calves weighing
500-600 lbs.
• 7.5% (15 head) developed a
slight nodule at the injection site
after the first vaccination. This
swelling was resolved within 10 days
post-vaccination.
• 3.5% (7 head) developed a slight
nodule after the second dose. This
swelling was completely resolved
by 8 days post-vaccination.
• No other local or systemic reactions
were observed.
Trial #2 Results
Trial #2 consisted of 189 head of
heavier calves: 65 10-month-old
mixed-breed heifers averaging 825 lbs.
and 124 head of similar age mixedbreed
steers averaging 850 lbs.
• 3.7% (7 head) developed pea-size
nodules which were resolved by
7 days post-vaccination.
• No local or systemic reactions
were observed after the first 2-mL
vaccination.
• No abscessed lesions or systemic
reactions were observed for the
duration of the trial.

Trial #3 Results
The third trial involved 208 head of
mixed-breed cattle weighing an average
of 850 lbs.
• 3.3% (7 head) developed small
nodules after the first vaccination.
These nodules were resolved by
9 days post-vaccination.
• 5.8% (12 head) developed small
nodules after the second dose.
These nodules were firm, small
and resolved by 8 days post-
vaccination (Figure 4).
• No apparent pain, restlessness
or systemic lesions were observed
throughout the trial.
Safety Trial Conclusions
In safety studies involving nearly
600 cattle, FUSOGARD Bacterin
used according to label directions was
shown to cause a minimal number
of small reactions at the site of
injection with complete resolution
of the reactions by 7 to 10 days postvaccination.
THE BENEFITS ADD UP
SuprImm ® ADJUVANT
SYSTEM ENHANCES
PROTECTION
A primary difference between
FUSOGARD and conventional footrot
preventative products is FUSOGARD’s
adjuvant: SuprImm.
SuprImm is a biodegradable adjuvant
that delivers a prolonged release of
protective antigens using a water-inoil-in-water
emulsion process. The
antigens incite the immune cells to
hurry to the injection site to stimulate
the immune response. The result:
longer, more thorough protection!
In addition to its excellent syringeability,
FUSOGARD’s SuprImm adjuvant
gives producers a conveniently wide
window to schedule vaccination and
subsequent vaccine boostering.
• FUSOGARD is the only Fusobacterium necrophorum bacterin designed,
developed and manufactured specifically for cattle.
• FUSOGARD is safe and effective against severe, highly virulent
F. necrophorum bacteria challenges – as proven in extensive field studies.
• FUSOGARD’s economic advantages outweigh the cost of treatment,
medication costs, feed conversion losses, lost milk production and
manpower to pull lame cattle.
• FUSOGARD features ease of handling – excellent syringeability, SubQ
Beef Quality Assurance benefits, vaccination flexibility, safety
of inactivated bacterin.
• FUSOGARD’s unique SuprImm ® adjuvant provides extended duration
of immunity to enhance disease protection longevity.
• FUSOGARD is backed by the professionals at Novartis Animal Vaccines,
the industry’s disease prevention leaders.
© 2002, Novartis Animal Vaccines, Inc.
NAVI-BD039-0702
“Wet and muddy are synonymous with
footrot. But that all changed when we
incorporated FUSOGARD ® Bacterin at
processing. While pens may still get wet
and muddy, footrot is no longer a concern.
Vaccinating for footrot is cost-effective, and
vaccinating rather than treating is easier on
the livestock and less labor-intensive.”
Jerry Bohn, General Manager, Pratt Feeders, LLC, Pratt, Kan.
FUSOGARD PROTOCOL
FUSOGARD Bacterin is labeled for
vaccination of healthy cattle 6 months
of age or older. For adequate protection,
vaccination with a single 2-mL dose
SubQ followed by a second 2-mL dose
60 days later.
For feedyards, FUSOGARD’s persistent
level of protection makes it
advantageous to administer the first
dose upon arrival into the feedyard
and the second dose at reimplant,
approximately 60 days later.
For more information on FUSOGARD ®
Fusobacterium necrophorum
Bacterin, contact your local
veterinarian, veterinary products
distributor or Novartis Animal
Vaccines, Inc. at 1-800-843-3386
1-800-843-3386