Bacteriological study on local and imported livestock vaccines used in Sindh, Pakistan

A total of 40 (28 local & 12 imported) livestock vaccines used in Sindh province of Pakistan were tested for bacterial contaminants. Four different bacterial species were identified from local vaccine samples. The species were Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, Bacillus cereus and B. subtilis. Imported vaccines were found free from bacterial contaminants. One of the total eight local Haemorrhagic septicaemia (H.S.) vaccines examined was found contaminated with E. coli and P. multocida, whereas one of the two local anthrax vaccines examined was positive for B. cereus and the other with B. subtilis. None of the enterotoxaemia (n=4), black quarter (n=3), foot and mouth disease (3 local & 4 imported), contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (n=3) and rabies (5 local & 3 imported) vaccines were contaminated with bacteria. All the 12 imported vaccines (2 HS, 3 anthrax, 4 FMD & 3 rabies), were free of bacterial contamination. Results of this study warrant immediate attention of the manufactures to the improvement of quality production of vaccines. Such studies need to be continued on periodical basis.