Target species
Chickens.
Indications for use
For active immunisation of chickens to reduce mortality, clinical signs and lesions linked to Marek’s disease. The onset of protection is from 5 days following vaccination. While the duration of immunity has not been investigated under laboratory conditions, a single dose is considered sufficient to provide protection throughout the risk period.
Contra-indications
None.
Special warnings for each target species
None.
Special precautions for use in animals
Only healthy birds should be vaccinated. Rispens strain virus is excreted by vaccinates and may spread to in-contact birds. Safety and reversion to virulence trials have shown that the spread to in-contact birds can be considered as safe.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the product to animals
The operator should be aware of the general precautions to be taken when handling liquid nitrogen. Due to its very low temperature, liquid nitrogen will cause severe injury if it is in contact with the body. Ampoules may explode with considerable violence on sudden temperature changes; therefore the operator should protect himself with gloves and a visor. Protective clothing should be worn that leaves no areas of the skin exposed. In the event of accidental splashing of liquid nitrogen, immediate and copious irrigation of the eye with water is very important. Special care must be taken if finger rings are worn, as these will freeze rapidly. First aid treatment of frostbite injuries: warm affected part by immersion in water 29 °C ± 1 °C or use body heat. There will be considerable pain during warming, but this is normal. Do not rub affected area; seek expert medical help as soon as possible. When removing an ampoule from a cane, hold the palm of a gloved hand away from the body and face. After handling the vaccine, operators should wash and disinfect hands with an approved disinfectant.
Adverse reactions
None.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Do not use in birds in lay or within 4 weeks of the onset of the laying period.
Interactions
The concurrent administration of some antibiotics may make the vaccine ineffective, it is therefore recommended not to administer antibiotics at the same time as the vaccine before taking appropriate advice from your medicine prescriber.
No information is available on the safety and efficacy from the concurrent use of this vaccine with any other except Boehringer Ingelheim's vaccine containing recombinant HVT expressing the protective antigen of the infectious bursal disease virus, Boehringer Ingelheim's H120 Infectious Bronchitis vaccine and Boehringer Ingelheim's frozen Marek’s disease HVT vaccine, where these vaccines are authorised. It is therefore recommended that no other vaccines than these should be administered within 14 days before or after vaccination with the product.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
Reconstitution of the vaccine
Do not use alone: A 1,000 dose ampoule should be reconstituted with 200 ml of Boehringer Ingelheim's authorised diluent for frozen vaccines against Marek’s disease and a 2,000 dose ampoule with 400 ml of Boehringer Ingelheim's authorised diluent for frozen vaccines against Marek’s disease.
- Remove from the liquid nitrogen container only those ampoules which are to be used immediately.
- Thaw rapidly the contents of the ampoules by agitation in water at 25-30°C.
- As soon as they are completely thawed, open ampoules holding them at arm’s length in order to prevent any risk of injury should an ampoule break.
- Once the ampoule is opened, draw up the contents of the vaccine into a 5 ml sterile syringe.
- Transfer the suspension into a bag of diluent previously brought to ambient temperature (20 °C ± 5 °C).
- Draw up 2 ml of the contents of the bag of diluent into the syringe.
- Rinse the ampoule with these 2 ml and then transfer the rinsing liquid into the bag of solvent.
- Repeat the rinsing operation once or twice.
- The diluted vaccine prepared as described is mixed by slight agitation so as to be ready for use. It should be used immediately after preparation (all of the diluted vaccine should be used up within one hour). This is why the vaccine suspension should only be prepared as and when required.
- Gently agitate the bag of diluted vaccine from time to time so as to mix the vaccine suspension during the vaccination process.
- Use sterile and antiseptic and/or disinfectant-free equipment for injection purposes.
- Adjust the syringe and monitor the injection in process so as to maintain the dose volume at 0.2 ml.
Posology
One single injection of 0.2 ml per chick when leaving the hatchery (at the age of one day).
Method of administration
The vaccine can be administered either by intramuscular route in the thigh or breast or by subcutaneous route in the lower part of the neck. In the first instance, it is recommended to compress the thigh muscles between the thumb and index finger to cause a slight muscular eminence. The needle must be introduced in parallel to the tibiotarsus.
Overdose
No side effects.
Withdrawal periods
Zero days.