Merck AH announces vaccine to combat IBV losses
Merck Animal Health have announced the availability of MILDVAC-Ma5, a vaccine to control Massachusetts-type infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) – the most prevalent IBV serotype worldwide and one that costs the US poultry industry millions of dollars in revenue loss each year.
IBV targets not only the respiratory tract but also the uro-genital tract and can spread to different organs throughout the chicken. The infection initially causes respiratory disease in the impacted birds and also impacts egg production in layers and breeders. Control is best achieved by improved biosecurity and vaccination.
Unlike other vaccines, research results show MILDVAC-Ma5 can provide broad coverage across multiple IBV strains and protection against ciliostasis. “Specifically, MILDVAC-Ma5 provided more than 88% protection against Mass41 when measured by the ciliostasis test. When combined with the Delaware-type 072 strain found in Shor-Bron-D, the vaccine offered protection against ciliostasis when broilers were challenged with Ark/ArkDPI/81, GA11 or GA98,” says Mark Jackwood, Department Head – Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, University of Georgia.
In addition, MILDVAC-Ma5 has minimal impact on the bird because it contains a homogenous virus, which reduces biological variation and helps ensure the vaccine will perform as expected in real-world settings. MILDVAC-Ma5 can be administered by coarse spray at 1 day of age or older or in the drinking water at 2 weeks of age or older. It also can be administered to 1-day-old chicks with Delaware-type, 072 strain (e.g. Shor-Bron-D). If needed for large birds, re-vaccination is recommended at 2 weeks of age.
MILDVAC-Ma5 is part of Protectotype, a poultry vaccination program, which offers a proven approach to managing multiple strains of infectious bronchitis in broiler and layer flocks.
“The Protectotype system focuses on maximising IB protection through the combination of individual vaccines,” says Charlie Broussard, director of scientific marketing affairs for poultry, Merck Animal Health. “When a bird receives two IB vaccines, it can gain protection to three or more IB serotypes – the two known IB serotypes and newly adapted IB serotypes for which there is no existing vaccine. The resulting cross protection helps ensure healthier flocks with overall better performance, increased uniformity, and improved gain and feed performance – all of which enhance an operation’s bottom line.”
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