MSD Animal Health has launched Bovilis Intranasal RSP Live, a live BRD vaccine for early life intranasal administration to dairy and beef calves from one week of age.

MSD says the new vaccine reduces the clinical signs of respiratory disease and viral shedding from infection with Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) and Parainfluenza-3 Virus (Pi3V), and that no other UK-licensed BRD vaccine can be administered earlier in life.

According to the company, it also delivers the fastest on-farm protection, with an onset of immunity after administration of 5 days for BRSV and 7 days for Pi3V. The duration of immunity is 12 weeks for both viruses.

MSD Animal Health ruminant veterinary adviser Dr Kat Baxter-Smith MRCVS said: "Early-age protection of calves through intranasal vaccination can help prevent pneumonia and positively impact a calf’s productive future.

"The sooner and faster these young calves can be protected against viral BRD and the permanent lung damage it causes, the better their potential lifetime productivity, be it in terms of delivering expected milk yield in the dairy herd or growth performance on the beef unit1 2."

Kat added that Bovilis Intranasal RSP Live also activates non-specific immunity – stimulating receptors and cytokines in the innate immune system3: "This equates to protection against viral replication in the nasopharyngeal cavity, reduction of virus shedding and protection of the calf against subsequent clinical symptoms3."

MSD says a practical benefit of Bovilis Intranasal RSP Live to farmers is that it can be used on farm up to six hours after mixing with the solvent, which is the longest of all the available intranasal BRD vaccines. Additionally, the new vaccine is supplied as a farm-friendly, easy-to administer nasal suspension product that doesn’t need a specific applicator – although for maximum flexibility a new easy-clean injector and nozzle kit is available for farmers needing to vaccinate multiple animals. 

References:

  1. Dunn T et al. (2018). The effect of lung consolidation, as determined by ultrasonography on first-lactation milk production in Holstein dairy calves, J. Dairy Sci., 101: 1-7
  2. Williams P & Green L (2007). Associations between lung lesions and grade and estimated daily live weight gain in bull beef at slaughter. Cattle Practice, Vol.15 (No.3). pp. 244-249
  3. Nuijten P., Cleton N., Van der Loop J., Makoschey B. & Vertenten G. (2019). A new intranasal BRD vaccine activates an early memory effect and protective immune mechanism. European Bovine Congress.

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.