Target species
Chickens (breeders from 8 weeks of age).
Indications for use
For protection of the vaccinated breeder against excretion of the chicken anaemia virus and transmission of the virus to eggs.
For this active immunisation,
onset of immunity: 4 weeks
duration of immunity: 43 weeks demonstrated by challenge.
For passive protection conferred to the progeny against clinical signs and lesions of chicken anaemia. The protection of the progeny is guaranteed for up to 51 weeks after vaccination of the breeder, and chicks are protected at one day old (as demonstrated by challenge).
Contra-indications
Do not use in unhealthy birds.
Special warnings for each target species
None.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
Vaccination should be performed from 8 weeks of age onwards, but no later than 6 weeks before the onset of lay in order to ensure that protective immunity has developed prior to the onset of lay.
The vaccine virus may spread to unvaccinated chickens, since it is excreted via the faeces for at least 14 days. Since the virus may cause clinical symptoms in very young chicks, a transfer to unprotected birds must be avoided. Avoid spreading to laying hens, birds approaching lay and young birds below 3 weeks of age. The vaccine should not be used in multi-age sites.
Avoid stress before, during and after vaccination.
The vaccine virus can be found in different organs and tissues between day 7 and day 49 after vaccination.
To reduce infection pressure before onset of immunity, the litter should be removed and the poultry house should be cleaned between the raising passages.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
The vaccine contains live virus, therefore care should be taken (e.g. by wearing gloves, protecting eyes, washing and disinfecting hands, etc.) to avoid any contamination, e.g. by sprinkling or spilling. Care should also be taken in handling poultry faeces as vaccine virus may be excreted via the faeces for at least 14 days.
Wash and disinfect hands and equipment after use.
Adverse reactions
None.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Do not use in birds in lay and no later than six weeks before the onset of lay.
Interactions
No information is available on the safety and efficacy of this vaccine when used with any other veterinary medicinal product. A decision to use this vaccine before or after any other veterinary medicinal product therefore needs to be decided on a case by case basis.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
For administration via the drinking water after reconstitution.
One dose should be administered to each bird.
Dosage and use:
Drinking water application:
Determine the number of vaccine doses and amount of water (see below) required. Do not split large vials to vaccinate more than 1 house or drinking system, as this may lead to mixing errors.
Make sure that the drinking water and all conduit pipes, tubing, troughs, drinkers etc. are thoroughly clean and free of any trace of disinfectants, detergents etc.
Use only cold and fresh water preferably non-chlorinated and free from metal-ions. Low-fat skimmed milk powder (i.e. < 1 % fat) may be added to the water (2 – 4 grams per litre) or skimmed milk (20 – 40 ml per litre of water) to improve the water quality and to increase the stability of the virus. This however, has to be done at least 10 minutes prior to reconstitution of the vaccine.
Open the vaccine ampoule under water and reconstitute contents thoroughly. Care should be taken to empty the ampoule and its top completely by rinsing them in water.
Allow water to be consumed so that levels in drinkers are minimal before vaccine is applied. All tubing should be emptied of plain water, so that the drinkers contain only vaccine water. If water is still present, drain lines before applying vaccine.
Apply vaccine over (up to) 2 hours, ensuring that all birds drink during this time. Birds drinking behaviour varies, it may be necessary to withhold water on some sites prior to vaccination in order to ensure that all birds drink during the vaccination period.
Birds should be given a single vaccination of one dose.
Ideally vaccine should be administered in the volume of water consumed by the birds in up to 2 hours. Apply diluted vaccine to cold and fresh water at a rate of 1,000 doses of vaccine to 20 – 40 litres of water for 1,000 chickens. If in doubt, measure water intake the day before administering vaccine.
– Administer the reconstituted vaccine to birds immediately.
– Make sure that birds do not have access to unmedicated water during vaccination.
Carefully follow the instructions for correct administration in order that all birds receive the correct dose. Insufficient vaccination may lead to reduced efficacy.
Overdose
No adverse reactions were observed following administration of a 10-fold overdose.
Withdrawal periods
Zero days.