Fleece rot and dermatophilosis (lumpy wool) in sheep: opportunities and challenges for new vaccines

During prolonged wetting of the fleece, proliferation of bacterial flora often dominated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Dermatophilus congolensis can induce dermatitis and fleece damage termed fleece rot and dermatophilosis respectively, which predispose sheep to blowfly strike. A large research effort in the 1980s and 1990s on vaccines to control fleece rot and dermatophilosis met with limited success. This review examines theoretical and technological advances in microbial ecology, pathogenesis, immunology, vaccine development and the characterisation of microbial virulence factors that create new opportunities for development of vaccines against these diseases. Genomic technologies have now created new opportunities for examining microbial dynamics and pathogen virulence in dermatitis. An effective vaccine requires the combination of appropriate antigens with an adjuvant that elicits a protective immune response that ideally provides long-lasting protection in the field. A clinical goal informed by epidemiological, economic and animal welfare values is needed as a measure of vaccine efficacy. Due to dependence of fleece rot and dermatophilosis on sporadic wet conditions for their expression, vaccine development would be expedited by in vitro correlates of immune protection. The efficacy of vaccines is influenced by genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the animal. Advances in understanding vaccine responsiveness, immune defence in skin and immune competence in sheep should also inform any renewed efforts to develop new fleece rot and dermatophilosis vaccines. The commercial imperatives for new vaccines are likely to continue to increase as the animal welfare expectations of society intensify and reliance on pharmacotherapeutics decrease due to chemical resistance, market pressures and societal influences. Vaccines should be considered part of an integrated disease control strategy, in combination with genetic selection for general immune competence and resistance to specific diseases, as well as management practices that minimise stress and opportunities for disease transmission. The strategy could help preserve the efficacy of pharmacotherapeutics as tactical interventions to alleviate compromised welfare when adverse environmental conditions lead to a break down in integrated strategic disease control. P. aeruginosa and D. congolensis are formidable pathogens and development of effective vaccines remains a substantial challenge.