Target species
Chickens (broilers and future layers)
Indications for use, specifying the target species
For the active immunisation of broilers and future layers against infectious bronchitis (Massachusetts serotype), in order to reduce respiratory clinical signs, detrimental effect on the ciliary activity and presence of virus in the trachea.
Protection was demonstrated by challenge with the Massachusetts M41 strain.
Onset of immunity: 3 weeks following vaccination.
Duration of immunity: 9 weeks following vaccination.
Contraindications
None.
Special warnings for each target species
Vaccinate healthy animals only.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
Vaccinated chickens may excrete the vaccine strain for up to 28 days following vaccination.
During this time, special precautions should be taken to avoid spreading of the vaccine strain to unvaccinated chickens and to other bird species, if any are close by. All chickens within the same farm should be vaccinated before or when entering the premises.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
Care should be taken when reconstituting and administering the vaccine. Wash and disinfect hands and equipment after administration of the vaccine. When spraying the vaccine, personal protective equipment consisting of a mask with eye protection should be worn by the operator and staff.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
No significant clinical symptoms were detected after administration of the product. Mild tracheal rales commonly occurred in animals 4-6 days after vaccination, which resolved completely in a few days. In rare cases transient conjunctivitis can occur.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Laying birds: The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been studied during lay. Do not use in birds in lay and within 4 weeks before the onset of the laying period.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Safety and efficacy data are available which demonstrate that this vaccine can be mixed and administered with Cevac IBird by spray application in chickens from day old onwards. Do not use the mixed products in birds in lay and within 4 weeks before the onset start of the laying period. The mixed products protect against strains belonging to Massachusetts and 793/B groups of IBV. The safety parameters of the mixed vaccines are not different from those described for the vaccines administered separately. Read the product information of Cevac IBird before use. Care should be taken to avoid spreading of the vaccine strains to other bird species, in particular when the vaccines are mixed. Simultaneous use of both vaccines may increase the risk of recombination of viruses and potential emergence of new variants. However, the chance of a hazard occurring has been estimated very low.
No information is available on the safety and efficacy of this vaccine when used with any other veterinary medicinal product except Cevac IBird. A decision to use this vaccine before or after any other veterinary medicinal product therefore needs to be made on a case by case basis.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
For nebulisation use.
The vaccine should be administered from one day of age, one dose / chicken. Reconstitute the vaccine in distilled water, or in cold, clear water, free from disinfectants. The quantity of water should be sufficient to allow a uniform distribution of the vaccine when spraying the chickens. The content of a 1000-dose vaccine vial is recommended to be dissolved in 200 ml water, whereas this ratio should be considered when dissolving other types of presentation.
The vaccine should be applied as coarse spray with a droplet size of 100-200 µm. It is preferable that the chickens are sitting together in dim light or closely confined during spraying. The ventilation should be switched off during and after vaccination in order to avoid turbulences. Vaccination should be performed during the coolest time of the day.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
No further reactions above the side effects mentioned under adverse reactions were observed after administering a 10-fold dose of the vaccine.
Withdrawal period(s)
Zero days.