Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health's New INNOVAX Poultry Vaccine Range Now Available In Latin America
Boxmeer, Netherlands - Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, the global leader in animal health solutions, announces recently that its innovative recombinant INNOVAX poultry vaccine range has been introduced in markets in Latin America.
The novel INNOVAX vaccine range, developed by scientists at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, consists of live virus vector vaccines that protect against pathogens that cause severe infections in poultry, such as Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT), Marek's Disease (MD) and Newcastle Disease (ND). In Latin America, INNOVAX vaccines are to be used at the hatchery as a single-dose injection into the egg of 18-day old embryos ("in-ovo") or as a subcutaneous injection in the chick at hatch, offering life-long protection without adverse vaccination reactions.
Unlike traditional viral vaccines, which use killed or attenuated live viruses to prevent disease outbreaks, INNOVAX vaccines employ a completely different approach. The vector vaccine is created by inserting (using recombinant technology) immunogenic gene sequences from a disease-causing virus into the virus genome of the non-pathogenic herpes virus of turkey, which is also used for protection against Marek's disease.
"Since vaccines of the INNOVAX range express the immunogenic proteins of a particular disease agent, there is no risk of developing a carrier state or clinical disease, as is the case for ILT. Besides, these vaccines induce a long-lasting immune response, limiting in general the need for revaccinations in the field", explained Aris Malo DVM, Global Technical Lead at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health's Poultry Business Unit.
"Our INNOVAX vaccines offer important advantages for the Latin-American poultry industry because day-old or in-ovo vaccination eliminates the need for field vaccination later in life, which simplifies management of flocks and improves biosecurity of the farms. Poultry vaccination with INNOVAX may therefore offer improved health and enhanced productivity as well as lower overall costs and convenience to the poultry business", added Marcelo Lang, Director of the Global Poultry Business Unit.
"The vaccine range has recently been introduced in Mexico (under the name FUSION) and in Peru and is close to introduction in other Latin American countries. In 2010 we plan to further introduce both INNOVAX-ILT and INNOVAX-ND-SB in other parts of the world. The first results and feedback that we have received from customers are very positive", said Rick van Oort, Global Marketing Manager of the Poultry Business Unit.
INNOVAX and FUSION are trademarks of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. This document contains information on veterinary products based on international registration dossiers. This press release may refer to products that are either not available in your country or are marketed under a different tradename. In addition, the safety and efficacy data for a specific product may be different depending on local regulations. For more information, read the product labeling that applies to your country or contact your local Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health representative.
About Infectious Laryngotracheitis
Infectious laryngotracheitis is an acute, higly contagious, serious viral respiratory disease in chicken. It is an economically important disease of poultry that may cause severe losses in meat and egg production. Additional economic losses may occur as a result of export restrictions.
About Newcastle Disease
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious poultry disease caused by pathogenic strains of avian paramyxovirus. The clinical signs in affected birds can be variable. The disease can be present in a very acute form with sudden onset and high mortality or as a mild disease with respiratory distress or a drop in egg production as the only detectable clinical signs. Other signs include depression, lack of appetite, respiratory distress with beak gaping, coughing, sneezing, gurgling and rattling, yellowish green diarrhoea and nervous signs.
About Marek's Disease
Marek's disease is a highly contagious viral neoplastic disease in chickens and is caused by an alphaherpesvirus. The disease is characterized by presence of T-cell lymphoma as well as infiltration of nerves and organs by lymphocytes. Typically, Marek's disease occurs as the nervous form, appearing as a progressive paralysis of one or more of the limbs or, less often, the neck or wings. As the sciatic nerve is commonly affected, birds are unable to stand, become paralyzed, appear uncoordinated and slowly waste away from lack of food and water.
About INNOVAX-ILT
INNOVAX-ILT is a recombinant vector vaccine against ILT and virulent MD, reaching full immunity at 4 weeks. Duration of immunity against ILT was at least 60 weeks and immunity against MD is for life. INNOVAX-ILT is USDA-approved and is commercially available in the USA.
About INNOVAX-ND-SB
INNOVAX-ND-SB is a recombinant vector vaccine against ND and virulent MD, reaching full immunity at 4 weeks. Duration of immunity against ND was at least 40 weeks and immunity against MD is for life. INNOVAX-ND-SB is USDA-approved and is commercially available in the USA.
SOURCE: Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health