Nobilis Ma5 + Clone 30 Data Sheet

Presentation

Live, freeze-dried virus vaccine against Infectious Bronchitis and Newcastle Disease. Each dose contains at least 10^3.5EID₅₀ of the IB strain Ma5 and 10^6.0EID₅₀ Newcastle disease virus strain Clone 30. For administration by spray, intranasal or intra-ocular instillation, or in drinking water.

Uses

For the active immunisation of chickens against the Massachusetts type or serologically related types of Infectious Bronchitis and against Newcastle disease.

Dosage and administration

The vaccine is administered by spray, intranasal or intra-ocular instillation or in the drinking water. Administration by coarse spray or the oculo-nasal route is the method of choice when vaccinating young birds; fine spray for older birds.

The vaccine is safe to use from 1 day of age onwards. The optimum time and method of administration depend largely on the local situation. Where necessary the advice of a veterinary surgeon should be sought.

Spray method

The vaccine should be dissolved in cool, clean water which is free of iron and chlorine. The appropriate number of vials should be opened under the surface of the water. The volume of water for reconstitution should be sufficient to ensure an even distribution when sprayed onto the birds. This will vary according to the age of the birds being vaccinated and the management system. The vaccine medicated water should be spread evenly over the correct number of birds, at a distance of 30–40 cm (12–16´´), preferably when the birds are sitting together in dim light. The spray apparatus should be free from sediments, corrosion and traces of disinfectants (and ideally should be used for vaccination purposes only). Aerosol generators should be used only when it is known to be safe to the birds. See table.

Intranasal/intra-ocular instillation

Dissolve the vaccine in physiological saline solution (usually 30 ml per 1,000 doses) and administer by means of a dropper. One drop should be applied from a height of a few centimetres onto one nostril or eye. The handler should ensure that the nasal drop is inhaled by the bird.

Drinking water

The vaccine is presented in vials under vacuum. Measure the correct volume of water for the number of birds to be vaccinated (see below), add 20 gram skimmed milk powder or 500 ml liquid skimmed milk per 10 litres, allow to stand for 15–30 minutes, then open the correct number of vials of vaccine under the surface of the water. All containers used should be clean and free from any traces of detergent or disinfectant. Mix thoroughly with a clean stirrer, ensuring that all vials used are emptied. Offer to birds immediately.

Use clean cold water, in which chlorine or metals can neither be tasted nor smelled. Where water sanitisers are used consult Intervet technical staff. Only skimmed milk should be used, as the fat in whole milk may block the automatic drinking systems as well as reduce vaccine virus efficacy.

Volumes of water for reconstitution of vaccine

The volume of water for reconstitution depends on the age of the birds and the management practice.

Simple drinking troughs and fountains: The following are guidelines

1,000 doses/litre/age in days up to a volume of 20 litres per 1,000 doses.

For heavy breeds, or in hot weather, the quantity of water may be increased up to 30 litres per 1,000 doses. Where the number of birds is between the standard dosages, the next higher dosage should be used.

Nipple drinkers

Drinker line management is known to have a significant effect on the viability of live vaccine virus. The vaccine virus can deteriorate very rapidly and it is essential to ensure that all birds receive the correct dose. Special care should be observed concerning the method of administration. For example, small header tanks may require recharging with medicated water several times during a 1–2 hour period.

Administration

Water should be withheld before vaccination. For recommendations see below under Management. Ensure that all medicated water is consumed within 1–2 hours. Turn on mains water when all the vaccine water has been consumed. Always make sure that there is food available when vaccinating. Birds will not drink if they have no food to eat.

Management

Great care should be taken to ensure that all birds receive a full dose of vaccine when the product is administered in drinking water. When used in chickens where maternal antibody still exists, the way in which this vaccine is administered is critical. The following points have been found to improve vaccine ‘take':

1.  Water withholding should be kept to a minimum, especially in broiler birds. Approximately half an hour is all that is required if the following management techniques are used.

2.  Try to vaccinate at a time when birds are likely to be drinking, e.g. morning time for broilers, when food is in the food tracks.

3.  Turn the lights down low when the water is turned off. For bell drinkers, go round the house emptying and cleaning the drinkers during the half-hour lights low period. Mix up the vaccine according to the recommendations, and towards the end of the half-hour water withholding period, go round all the drinkers filling each with water containing vaccine. Leave the house and turn the light up. The increased light intensity will stimulate the birds to look for water and food. Therefore, it is important that food is available or the birds will not be interested in drinking. In some cases, it helps to run food tracks at the time the light intensity is increased.

For nipple lines a substantial volume of residual water may remain in the lines after the half-hour water withholding/dark period. It is advisable to drain the lines and prime with vaccine loaded water before allowing the birds to have access to the drinker lines. Mix up the vaccine and apply to the header tank(s). Calculate the volume of water that is left in the tank below the outlet valve and make sure you add extra vaccine to this volume of water. For example, if 10 litres remain below the outlet pipe and you are using 10 litres/1,000 birds to vaccinate, add one extra vial of vaccine when mixing up vaccine for that tank. The use of this extra vaccine is important.

4.  Once the vaccine has been consumed, resume management practices as normal. This approach to vaccination will ensure a more even vaccination of the crop and will be less stressful to the birds. Performance should therefore be less adversely affected.

For further information on use of a vaccine in specific circumstances or in conjunction with other Intervet vaccines consult Intervet technical staff.

Contra-indications, warnings, etc

1. Only healthy birds should be vaccinated. Sick or weak birds will not develop adequate immunity following vaccination.
2. No information is available on the effects of the concurrent use of this vaccine with other vaccine viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Do no administer within 14 days before or after the administration of any other vaccine which has the respiratory tract as a target organ.
3. The vaccine viruses spread rapidly to susceptible chicks.
4. Vaccination during the laying period may be accompanied by a transient drop in egg production.

Operator warning

Because Newcastle Disease Virus can cause transitory conjunctivitis in man, it is recommended to wear respiratory and eye protection in compliance with current European standards *.  For more information contact the manufacturer. Hands should be washed and disinfected after vaccinating.

*The following protective equipment should be worn by the vaccinator and staff:

During vaccine dilution, and administration in the drinking water

Eye protection (to BS EN 166 or better)

Overalls

Single use medical gloves (to BS EN 455).

During spray administration

Overalls

Single use medical gloves to (BS EN 455).

When spraying the vaccine, to avoid hay-fever like reaction in some individuals, well fitting respirator masks, and eye protection, to the appropriate current British/European standard, must be worn by the operator and staff.

Withdrawal period

Zero days.

For animal treatment only. Keep out of reach of children.

Pharmaceutical precautions

Store between +2° and +8°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light.

Vaccine medicated water should be used within 2 hours and not stored. Discard unused vaccine and empty containers into a disinfectant approved under the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) Order.

Legal category

PML.

Package quantities

Vials containing 500, 1,000 or 2,500 doses, but not all presentations may be marketed.

Further information

An adequate immunity against ND and the Massachusetts type of IB will last for approximately 6 weeks.

A good immune response is reliant on the reaction of an immunogenic agent and a fully competent immune system. Immunogenicity of the vaccine antigen will be reduced by poor storage or inappropriate administration. Immuno-competence of the animal may be compromised by a variety of factors including poor health, nutritional status, genetic factors, concurrent drug therapy and stress. Under certain conditions, for example extreme disease pressure and variant challenge, fully immune birds may succumb to disease. Therefore, successful vaccination may not be synonymous with full protection in the face of a disease challenge.

Marketing authorisation number

Vm 01708/4315.