Avian Encephalomyelitis Vaccine

Avian encephalomyelitis (AE) is a viral disease of the CNS of young chickens, turkeys, Japanese quail, pheasants, and pigeons. Turkeys are less susceptible to natural infection and generally develop a milder clinical disease than chickens. Ducklings and guinea fowl are susceptible to experimental infection.

AE is characterized by neurologic signs that result from infection of the CNS with an RNA virus. The virus species is Tremovirus A in the genus Tremovirus of the family Picornaviridae. Infection occurs via vertical and horizontal transmission. If a breeder flock becomes infected during egg production, the virus is vertically transmitted to the offspring, and a major outbreak occurs.

The disease often appears in a series of flocks hatched from the infected breeder flock. Natural field strains of the virus are enterotropic and multiply in the intestine. Infected birds shed the virus in their feces for a few days to a few weeks, which serves to spread the infection to hatchmates. There is no convincing evidence that the virus persists in infected birds. AE virus is resistant to environmental conditions and may remain infectious for long periods.

Indications For Use

Avian Encephalomyelitis Vaccine is a chicken embryo propagated, freeze-dried, live virus vaccine for wing web administration in chickens. The vaccine is recommended for vaccination of healthy chickens aged 8 weeks or older but at least 4 weeks prior to start of lay. When used as indicated, it will aid in preventing the clinical signs caused by the virulent field strains of avian encephalomyelitis virus. For the active immunisation of healthy chickens against Avian Encephalomyelitis. The progeny of hens vaccinated according to the recommended program will have maternally derived antibodies protecting it from Avian Encephalomyelitis.

Administration

The vaccine is administered through wing web route using a double needle applicator. In order to prepare the vaccine for wing web administration, tear off the aluminum seal from the vial containing the freeze dried virus. Lift off the rubber stopper. Remove the seal and stopper from the diluent bottle. Each diluent bottle contains 10 ml of diluent. Pour half of the diluent into the vial containing the freeze dried virus. Replace the rubber stopper and shake the vaccine vial. Pour the partly dissolved vaccine into the diluent bottle to mix with rest of the diluent. Replace the rubber stopper and shake vigorously until the vaccine is dissolved completely. The vaccine is now ready for use. For vaccination, hold the bird and spread the underside of one wing outward.

Insert the double needle applicator into the vaccine bottle, wetting or charging both needles. Pierce the web of the exposed wing with the double needle applicator charged with vaccine. Insert the double needle applicator into the vaccine vial again and proceed to vaccinate the next bird. During vaccination avoid hitting large blood vessels, bones and the wing muscles with the double needle applicator. Do not inject in any other site except the exposed wing web.

Precautions

Store refrigerated at 2 – 7 °C. Do not allow to freeze. Do not expose to disinfectants or heat. In accordance with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) best practice, all susceptible birds on site should be vaccinated concurrently with the dose recommended by the manufacturer.

Administration of live AE vaccine to flocks in lay may result in a transient decrease in egg production for up to 14 days. Do not administer live AE vaccine to breeders within 4 weeks of onset of lay or during egg production. The AE virus is shed in faeces and transmitted vertically in eggs for up to 4 weeks following vaccination. To avoid clinical AE in the progeny, eggs for hatching should not be taken from the flock until 4 weeks have elapsed following vaccination. Birds less than 8 weeks-of-age exposed to live AE vaccine may display clinical neurological disease.

Storage

– Store vaccine between +2°C and +8°C or 35°F and 45°F
– Protect from light

Prices of Avian Encephalomyelitis Vaccine

$29.32 – $150.00

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