Pfizer Animal Health has launched Poulvac, the first modified live vaccine against E.coli in chickens.

The company claims that the vaccine, which can be used from one day of age, is set to bring major benefits in safeguarding the health of broilers, pullets for egg laying and breeding stock.

According to Pfizer, E.coli is one of the most significant bacterial pathogens found in chicks during the first week, leading to problems throughout the life of a flock including inferior performance, lack of uniformity and increased mortality. It is a costly, widespread problem for the UK poultry industry.

The vaccine was developed from research beginning in the 1990s at the Government's veterinary laboratories at Weybridge (now AHVLA) in the UK, employing genome technology to produce an avirulent strain of E.coli that induces protective immunity to the pathogenic strains of the bacteria.

The vaccine is completely non-pathogenic, and does not persist in the bird or the environment for any significant period of time. A gene deletion in its development restricts in vivo replication and leaves behind activated macrophages ready to respond to pathogenic E.coli strains.

Dr Stuart Andrews, poultry technical manager of Pfizer in the UK and Ireland said: "Poulvac E. coli provides broad cross protection against the key serotypes of E. coli infecting chickens. It is the only modified live, nonreactive vaccine proven to meet the European regulatory requirements for efficacy and safety.

"Trials have confirmed that Poulvac E.coli does not persist in the bird and proves to be self-limiting. The vaccine can survive in the environment for only a short time, and spread to in-contact birds is also limited."

The vaccine is administered as a coarse spray with onset of immunity 14 days afterwards and duration of immunity for up to 12 weeks. It can be used from day-old up to six weeks before the onset of lay, and has a nil day withdrawal period.

In the USA where Poulvac E coli has been available for six years field experience has shown the considerable benefits. In the Midwest where average layer mortality at 50 weeks of age was 2.31 per cent, this was reduced to 1.51 per cent with three doses of the vaccine*. In Eastern USA flock mortality compared with five previous flocks was reduced from over three per cent to one per cent.

A field trial in the USA with more than 300,000 broiler breeders vaccination before lay reduced mortality from 2.8 to 1.9 per cent - with only two out of 28 flocks needing antibiotic treatment compared with 13 of the 28 unvaccinated flocks.

On a broiler field trial in Georgia over four million birds were vaccinated with Poulvac E. coli at hatch. The vaccinated birds had a better feed conversion (1.79 against 1.84 for the controls) and with condemnations at the processing plant down from 1.22 to 0.73 per cent the result was a lower production cost of 0.51¢ per lb. 

In another broiler trial covering more than two million birds in Arkansas livability was improved from 95.20 to 95.77 per cent and feed conversion improved from 1.95 to 1.90, gaining 0.45¢ per lb.

* Pfizer says it is important to note that in these studies carried out in the USA more than one dose of the vaccine was often administered. A single vaccination is licensed in the Summary of Product Characteristics however, where clinical disease requires and at the discretion of a veterinary surgeon, the vaccination schedule may be re-started as there is no contra-indication on the SPC.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has clarified the legal position regarding the disbudding of goats, following recent media reports concerning undercover filming on UK goat farms. 

The carrying out of any activity which amounts to veterinary surgery is restricted to veterinary surgeons unless there is a suitable exemption that allows other people to do it. The removal of the horn-bud of goats (disbudding) is considered veterinary surgery under the provisions of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (the Act).

Schedule 3 of the Act provides certain exemptions to the restriction on carrying out veterinary surgery, such as those allowing veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses to undertake any medical treatment or any minor surgery (not involving entry into a body cavity) in certain circumstances. However, Schedule 3 specifically provides that these exemptions do not allow non-veterinary surgeons to undertake the disbudding of goats, except the trimming of the insensitive tip of an in-growing horn which, if left untreated, could cause pain or distress.  

There are no other Exemption Orders covering the disbudding of goats and therefore this procedure may only be undertaken by veterinary surgeons.

The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2007 and the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 all include disbudding of goats as a procedure which can be carried out for non-therapeutic reasons. However, this secondary legislation is subject to the restrictions in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and therefore disbudding of goats is restricted to veterinary surgeons.The Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures By Lay Persons) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 currently include disbudding of goats as a procedure which may be carried out by non-veterinary surgeons.  However, the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 applies to Northern Ireland and the Regulations are scheduled to be amended later in 2012.  This will make it clear that only veterinary surgeons may disbud goats in the UK.

The secondary legislation in the UK does not explicitly require anaesthetic to be administered when disbudding goats. However, disbudding should be carried out by veterinary surgeons in accordance with good practice and in such a way as to minimise pain and suffering caused to the animal, which should include use of an anaesthetic.

In summary, only a veterinary surgeon may undertake the disbudding of goats and due to the nature of the procedure, veterinary surgeons disbudding goats should administer anaesthetic.

The Badger Trust's legal challenge to Defra's plans for targeted badger cull pilots has failed in the High Court on all three grounds.

Whilst the RSPCA has expressed its disappointment, the British Veterinary Association and British Cattle Veterinary Association have welcomed the judgement.

BVA President Carl Padgett said: "We are pleased that the High Court has ruled Defra's policy lawful and that the pilot badger culls can now go ahead.

"The BVA and BCVA believe that the government's approach has been robust and justifiable as it is based on our current scientific knowledge.

"Bovine TB is a devastating disease and we must tackle the disease in wildlife alongside cattle controls if we are to get on top of it."

David Bowles, the RSPCA's Director of Communications, said: "We are bitterly disappointed that the UK Government in England is ploughing on with plans to kill badgers but the fight is not over yet.

"We believe culling is not a long-term, sustainable solution and will be of little help in reducing the disease - perhaps even making things worse in some areas. It will wipe out huge numbers of this much-loved species, virtually eliminating badgers from these areas, including many animals which are healthy.

"It is not as if there aren't alternatives to a cull. Vaccination could be a more effective and sustainable way of dealing with the disease, and one which does not involve killing most of the badger population in very large areas of the countryside."

Norbrook Laboratories has launched a long-acting cattle bolus which it says will reduce the risk of Milk Fever. 

According to the company, Calcitrace D3 is the first and only long-acting bolus to offer slow and fast releasing calcium to provide sustained calcium levels for 48 to 72 hours. In addition, Calcitrace D3 provides Magnesium, Phosphate and Vitamin D3 making it the most comprehensive bolus available.   

Calcitrace D3 is smooth gelatin coated bolus with a rounded tip designed for easier administration. Norbrook says it is smaller than other boluses making it less likely to cause trauma on the orpharynx during administration.

Dr Barry McInerney, Norbrook's GB Veterinary Advisor said: "Milk Fever is a common metabolic disorder in dairy cattle which generally affects older, high producing cows and is caused by a rapid decrease in calcium concentrations in the blood just before calving. It is estimated that 3-10% of cows are affected by Milk Fever with a cost of more than £200 per incident so it is crucial that farmers and vets reduce the risk as effectively as possible.

"Norbrook's new Calcitrace D3 bolus which should be administered just before calving, provides higher calcium blood levels during the critical 12 - 48 hour post calving period and provides sustained increased levels for well beyond 48 hours. With the addition of Magnesium, Phosphate and Vitamin D3, Calcitrace D3 provides additional protection against Milk Fever."

Andrew Hillan MVB MRCVS, Director of Veterinary Sciences at Norbrook, led the development of Calcitrace D3. He said: "The launch of Calcitrace D3 is another illustration of the very high quality of technical expertise that exists within our research and development department and underlines Norbrook's commitment to developing high quality and innovative products. It comes from a strong and exciting pipeline of new products which we will bring to the market over the next couple of years."

Edinburgh-based charity the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) has announced three drug discovery contracts in an effort to combat animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT), a disease which is estimated to cost Africa US$5billion a year.

Animal African trypanosomosis, transmitted by the tsetse fly, is a parasitic disease which affects livestock, resulting in a chronic illness which often ends in death. An estimated 50 million cattle and 70 million sheep and goats are at risk, with around 3 million cattle dying annually from the disease.

AAT causes economic losses in livestock, reducing meat and milk production and leaving animals so weak they are unable to help cultivate land. It affects over 10 million square kilometres of fertile land spread across nearly 40 countries in Africa and therefore has a huge impact on food and nutritional security and livelihoods across the continent.

The drugs that are currently used were developed in the 1950s and 60s and drug resistance is now a commonly reported problem. With few other options available, these drugs are the most important method of controlling the disease.

In May 2011 the Department for International Development (DfID) awarded GALVmed 30 month grant for £8million to facilitate the development of drugs, diagnostics and potential vaccines for the control of AAT.

The first contract was awarded to Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., a California based biopharmaceutical company established in 2002.

As part of a Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) supported project, Anacor and their partners discovered a series of compounds to combat the human form of AAT, Human African Trysanosomsis (HAT). A number of compounds produced under this programme have properties which could make them suitable for the treatment and prevention of animal AAT. These relevant compounds will now be screened for efficacy and safety under the GALVmed contract.

The second and third contracts have both been awarded to the College of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee, one of Europe's top-ranked universities for life science research.

Dr Kevin Read, who is Head of Drug Metabolism and Pharmokinectics at the drug Discovery Unit is leading a piece of drug discovery and development research, which aims to develop new drugs for the treatment and possible prevention of AAT in cattle, and also a diagnostic test for use in the field. This builds on the university's work on HAT and drugs that were unsuitable for human treatment are now being re-evaluated as potential drugs for cattle.

Dr Read said: "I am very excited to be working in partnership with GALVmed to apply our extensive drug discovery expertise in HAT to identify and bring forward new potential drugs for the treatment and prevention of AAT. The new project offers an exciting opportunity to reposition compounds showing great promise for the treatment of first stage HAT into AAT, thus improving food security in some of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa."

US-based Life Technologies has launched a new PCR-based test system which, according to the company, allows large numbers of pigs to be screened more quickly and cost-effectively for a range of common pathogens, such as PRRSV, SIV and PCV2.

The system uses samples of oral fluids which can be obtained by leaving a cotton rope in each pen for pigs to chew on. After 20 minutes or so, the rope can be retrieved and the saliva and gingival crevicular fluid squeezed into a sample bag and represents a pooled sample from the group.

Studies have demonstrated that oral fluid samples collected in this way can form the basis of a quick and cost-effective method for screening a range of common viral pathogens. The samples were tested using a commercially available sample preparation and real-time PCR test system which can isolate and identify viral nucleic acid in a matter of hours.

For PRRS, pooled samples of oral fluids were collected from groups of experimentally infected pigs using the rope technique, along with serum samples from each individual pig on the same days. Both serum samples and oral fluids were processed using the same Applied Biosystems preparation system and real- time PCR test, both of which were supplied by Life Technologies. The results showed that PRRSV nucleic acid was detectable in both serum and oral fluid samples from the day of infection through to 40 days after infection.

For PCV2, 24 pigs that were free of PRRSV and SIV were divided into 4 pens in separate rooms, and challenged with two different virus strains (PCV2a and PVC2b) at different times. One pen acted as a (non-challenged) control. Oral fluids were collected regularly up to 140 days after initial challenge and tested using real-time PCR. High titres of PCV2 were detected from day 12 to day 28 post infection and virus was detectable throughout the entire testing period (days 2 to 98).

For SIV, a total of 180 spiked oral fluid samples were tested using real-time PCR, and subtyping reagents were also used to identify haemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes. The results showed that SIV nucleic acid was detectable in oral fluid samples spiked with high, medium and low copy numbers of SIV, and all positive samples could be successfully sub-typed.

Christina Boss, European Professional Service Veterinarian for Life Technologies said: "Collecting samples in this way is far less invasive for the pigs and so avoids unnecessary stress. And because all of the pigs will chew on the rope, it provides a very broad sample from the group, which is the key to assessing overall herd health. In addition, if the pooled sample provides a positive result, then the animals in that pen can be tested individually to identify those that are infected.

"These results show that the simplicity of oral fluid sampling, combined with the speed and sensitivity of a PCR-based system, provides a practical and cost- effective way of monitoring large numbers of pigs for common virus pathogens.

"The use of a semi-automated, PCR-based diagnostic system means that nucleic acid purification can be achieved in just 25 minutes and results from the real-time PCR available in 90 minutes. The molecular test is very specific and reliable, so the veterinarian can initiate individual testing as quickly as possible and make confident recommendations to the producer."

According to Life Technologies, screening for PRRS using samples of oral fluids has been gaining popularity over recent years because large numbers of pigs can be tested without increased cost or labour. The new research is due to be presented as a poster at the ESPHM meeting in Bruges in April.

MSD Animal Health has launched FlockCheck 2012, its complimentary sheep diagnostic service that identifies whether enzootic abortion or toxoplasmosis is present in a client's flock.

FlockCheck 2012 requires vets to take blood samples from 6-8 aborting ewes. MSD says that at a time when many farmers are asking for veterinary diagnostic support to confirm or rule out potential Schmallenberg virus infection, it makes sense to investigate whether other diseases are present in the flock at the same time.

MSD Animal Health ruminant veterinary adviser Drew McGurren MRCVS said: "Based on the previous two years' FlockCheck data (2011 and 2010), on average over 86% of submitted samples tested positive for toxoplasmosis and more than 62% were positive for enzootic abortion. Around 43% of samples showed exposure to both diseases.

"With lamb prices still remaining buoyant it has never been more important to ensure farmers minimise lamb losses. The 2012 FlockCheck service allows vets to identify whether toxoplasmosis or enzootic abortion is the cause of any aborted lamb losses and provides a starting point for discussions around the value of vaccination programmes with Enzovax and Toxovax."      

Vets are asked to submit unit blood samples with the new 2012 FlockCheck forms.

Animalcare has launched Emdocam (meloxicam 20mg/ml), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the oxicam class for use in cattle, pigs and horses.

According to the company, Emdocam disrupts the inflammatory cascade by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. It is a potent and preferential inhibitor of COX-2, permitting sufficient COX-1 sparing activity. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. When administered in a single dose to cattle, it has long acting anti-endotoxic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory effects for up to three days.^1,2

In cattle, it is indicated for bovine respiratory disease (BRD), clinical mastitis and calf scour. Animalcare says early use of meloxicam for BRD reduces pyrexia and pain, especially in young calves and improves feed intake. Meloxicam plus an antibiotic significantly reduced the extent of lung lesions, leading to improved clinical efficacy and daily liveweight gain in comparison with animals treated with antibiotics alone, for example oxytetracycline,³ florfenicol⁴and tilmicosin. ⁵

In the case of clinical mastitis, Animalcare says that used adjunctively with an antibiotic, Emdocam helps relieve local and systemic inflammation, returns the udder to a normal condition and reduces the polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) response. In a large scale, double-blinded study in New Zealand, the addition of meloxicam to antibiotic therapy resulted in lower Somatic Cell Counts and a reduced risk of culling in dairy cows with mild clinical mastitis.⁶

Calf scour treated with meloxicam, as a supportive therapy, can improve calf well-being and reduce morbidity. In a double-blinded, controlled study, the use of meloxicam improved daily water and feed intake, added greater average bodyweight (bw) gain and helped calves to wean earlier. ⁷

In horses, administered IV at 3.0ml/100kg bw, Emdocam can be used for musculo-skeletal disorders, as well as colic, resulting in reduced pain and inflammation. In a study of 18 horses comparing flunixin with meloxicam and designed to determine the effect on recovery of ischemic-injured jejunum, meloxicam was found to be a useful alternative for the post-operative treatment of colic. ⁸

Emdocam is also indicated in pigs for non-infectious locomotive disorders and as an adjunctive therapy with an antibiotic in puerperal septicaemia and toxaemia (mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome).

Tony Liepman from Animalcare said: "Emdocam is competitively priced whether used on its own or adjunctively with a long-acting intramuscular (IM) antibiotic, such as Florgane suspension for the treatment of BRD in calves. This, coupled with its long lasting, low volume (2.5ml/100kg bw in cattle), single dose administration, by intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) injection, makes Emdocam a highly efficacious and practical  NSAID." 

Emdocam is a POM-V medicine and available as 50 and 100ml multi-dose vials. Withdrawal period in cattle for meat and offal is 15 days and in pigs for meat and offal is 5 days. In horses for meat and offal it is 5 days. In Florgane [POM-V], the withdrawal period for meat and offal is 37 days in cattle and not to be used in cattle producing milk for human consumption

References

   Cattle

1. Salamon E. et al., Effects of meloxicam on thromboxane levels in calves with experimentally induced endotoxaemia. Cattle Practice (2000) 8, 1.
2. Friton G. et al., Clinical efficacy of meloxicam (Metacam®) inlactating cows with acute mastitis. Proc. XXII World Buiatrics Congress (2002) 427-259.
3. Friton G.M. et al., Long-term effects of meloxicam in the treatment of respiratory disease in fattening cattle. Veterinary Record (2005) 156, 809-811.
4. Bardella I. et al., Effects in treatment of respiratory diseases of calves with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Proc. XXII World Buiatrics Congress (2002) 140-189. 
5. Schmidt H. et al., Effekte der zusatzlichen Gabe von Metacam® (meloxicam) auf den Krankheitsverlauf bei Rindern mit akuten Atemwegserkrankungen. Praktischer Tierarzt (2000) 81:3, 240-244.
6. McDougall S. et al., Effect of treatment with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory meloxicam on milk production, somatic cell count, probability of re-treatment and culling of dairy cows with mild clinical mastitis. J. Dairy Science (2009) 92: 4421-4431.
7. Todd D.R. et al., An evaluation of meloxicam (Metacam®) as an adjunctive therapy for calves with neonatal calf diarrhoea complex (2007) J. Animal Sci; 85, (Suppl 1): 369.
   
   
   Horses
   
8. Little D. et al., Effects of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor meloxicam on recovery of ischemia-injured equine jejunum. Am. J. Vet. Res. (2007) 68, No. 6, 614-624

Boehringer Ingelheim is offering a free stainless steel bolus applicators, worth £42.60/€ 59.39 (plus VAT), with the first 1,000 Bovikalc multipacks sold after 1^st March in the UK and Eire.

According to the company, milk fever is recognised as the most common mineral deficiency affecting transition cows; one that has a significant impact on the overall health of affected animals, even those showing no outward symptoms. This offer aims to help combat this costly but preventable disease.

The offer is open to farmers, vets and suppliers of Bovikalc and one free applicator will be provided for each Bovikalc multipack - 6 x 4 boluses.

Farmers are required to apply for the free applicators through their veterinary surgeon or Bovikalc supplier.

For further information, including the terms and conditions of the offer, visit www.bovikalc.co.uk. Alternatively, contact your regional cattle specialist or call Boehringer on 01344 746959.

Protek Biochem Ltd., a company set up by champion horse-rider Debbie Topping, has won the rights to sell Envirocair Veterinary, a new range of disinfectants and sanitisers targeted at dogs, cats and other domestic pets, as well as horses and farm animals.

The product is claimed to kill 99.99% of all viral, bacterial and fungal infections, and lasts for 14 days.

Debbie said: "I did not consider myself a businesswoman, just a normal horse-rider and animal lover. However, I was so impressed when I tried Envirocair Veterinary that, when I was offered the opportunity to become the main UK distributor, I jumped at the chance."

According to the company, the product is being used by a number of the horses and trainers heading to the London Olympics in 2012. It is now being rolled out across the rest of the UK's animal care sector.

Debbie says that veterinary surgeons, farmers, dog kennels, animal rescue centres, breeders and others will all be able to benefit from the new product: "Envirocair Veterinary doesn't harm skin or irritate the respiratory tract, so you don't need to get dressed up in special clothing every time you use it. 

"Used properly, it quite literally kills the threat of major animal diseases such as parvovirus in dogs, which can otherwise be fatal in less than 72 hours.

"It's not an exaggeration to say that Envirocair will protect the health and even save the lives of countless numbers of animals across the UK."

Debbie signed the distribution agreement with the manufacturer Biotech International Ltd last month, before officially launching Envirocair Veterinary this week.

For more information on Protek Biochem Ltd or Envirocair Veterinary, visit http://www.protekbiochem.com/.

The British Veterinary Association has reiterated its call for heightened vigilance following confirmation by AHVLA that Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has been detected on four sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex.

At this early stage the virus is understood to be vector-borne (although other routes of transmission have not been ruled out) and the clinical signs seen along with meteorological modelling of risk suggests that the four farms were affected during summer/autumn 2011, with congenital defects now becoming visible at lambing time.

Animals imported from the affected areas in northern Europe are also considered to be potentially at risk and their destination in the UK has been identified.

Congenital deformities and nervous defects are seen in newborn lambs, goat kids and calves. Clinical signs in affected cattle include pyrexia (fever), milk drop, and diarrhoea similar to what is often termed 'winter dysentery'. Farmers should be looking out for clusters of these signs within herds and flocks and reporting them to their veterinary surgeon.

Vets who are aware of suspicious clinical signs on their client's farms should report them to AHVLA, SAC or the local DARD divisional veterinary office for further investigation.

AHVLA, SAC and DARD have stated that they are keen to investigate potential cases and there will be no extra charge for the SBV tests that are undertaken, but their approaches are slightly different.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland AHVLA and AFBI are carrying out SBV-only testing (ie to rule the disease in or out) free of charge but are charging the standard subsidised investigation charge for any additional diagnostic work.

In Scotland any carcases submitted for post mortem examinations are examined at the standard fee and all necessary examinations required by the VIO to investigate the case are included in the fee. SAC is not charging an additional fee for SBV testing.

Carl Padgett, President of the BVA, said:  "The confirmation of Schmallenberg virus in sheep flocks in England is a reminder to vets and farmers across the UK to step up vigilance amongst ruminants.

"The BVA would encourage vets to speak to their local AHVLA, SAC or DARD team to discuss any suspect cases and consider submitting specimens for further investigation. We understand that in confirmed cases clinical signs occur in clusters and vets should ensure they know what to look for in both adult and perinatal ruminants.

"While the cases in the south east of England suggest the virus is vector-borne other potential routes of transmission are still being considered. Although the risk of zoonosis is believed to be very low it has not been ruled out and a sensible precautionary approach should be taken by those handling infected animals and specimens."

Elanco has launched a new poultry tonic designed to support birds during the most demanding periods of productivity: during growth and peak laying.

The launch follows Elanco's acquisition of Janssen Animal Health and its existing poultry poultry tonic, which Elanco has improved.

Elanco Poultry Tonic HD Plus contains two new ingredients: a vitamin D3 metabolite and a natural antioxidant blend.

Elanco says the new product could prove just the tonic for the poultry industry in the face of rising fuel and feed costs. One study has apparently demonstrated as much as a 5:1 return on investment can be made as a result of supplementing the D3 metabolite alone.¹

According to the company, the vitamin D3 metabolite has been shown to increase egg weights (by around 2 per cent) and improve feed conversion and feed intake. It is more available to the body than vitamin D3, which plays a role in calcium metabolism (and therefore egg production). The benefits are significant for commercial egg producers but also for hatcheries, as egg size correlates with chick weight. Elanco says the metabolite can also improve bone strength, potentially resulting in healthier, more robust poults.

The new antioxidant blend contains natural preparations of vitamins as well as more complex antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, such as flavanoids, polyphenols and carotenoids. It also contains nucleotides and sulphur containing amino acids, methionine and lysine.

Elanco's new Poultry Tonic HD Plus is suitable for layers, broilers, breeders and turkeys and is available from veterinary wholesalers and animal health distributors. The company is also launching Game Bird Tonic HD Plus at the same time.

Reference

1. SOTO-SALANOVA MF MOLINERO A, Efficacy of the use of Hy-D® in laying hens, XI th European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products 191 Doorwerth, The Netherlands, 23-26 May 2005