A preliminary investigation into the efficacy of intraperitoneal vaccination of sheep and goat kids against heartwater.

The intraperitoneal route was explored both as an alternative to the intravenous route for the vaccination of sheep and goat kids against heartwater and for the administration of an antibiotic to animals suffering from the disease. Only 8 (57%) of the 14 adult sheep, and none of the 7 goat kids, were found to be immune after intraperitoneal vaccination with infective blood. However, this route was found to be very suitable and effective for the administration of tetracyclines to reacting animals.