Evidence-based medicine concerning efficacy of vaccination against Clostridium chauvoei infection in cattle.

Clostridium chauvoei infections occur frequently in cattle and produce disease end lethality. Vaccination is frequently used to prevent occurrence of these infections. Although the literature on blackleg is voluminous, scientific evidence on the efficacy of vaccination against C chauvoei to prevent diseases and lethality in cattle is scant. This study demonstrates that the evidence of efficacy of C chauvoei vaccines to prevent infection by this microorganism in cattle is poor to moderate. A greater participation of practitioners in clinical research and greater access to informational tools such as systematic reviews must be part of the objectives of veterinary medicine.