Schmallenberg vaccine set to go on sale
The first vaccine against the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) will go on sale to farmers after being shipped to the UK in the next few weeks.
The government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has granted a provisional marketing authorisation for the product, known as Bovilis SBV.
Manufactured by MSD Animal Health, it is the first vaccine specifically targeting the Schmallenbery virus (SBV) in cattle and sheep.
SBV, which emerged in late 2011, is transmitted via insect vectors, mainly midges.
It causes transient clinical symptoms in adult cattle and sheep, such as fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk yield, as well as congenital malformation in newborn calves and lambs.
Some 1,753 reported cases of SBV had been confirmed throughout the UK as of 31 March 2013, with incidents of the disease detected in every county in England and Wales.
“We would like to thank the VMD for its partnership and support to fast track the availability of Bovilis SBV to the market,” said MSD Animal Health UK country manager Andras Bolcskei.
“There was a tremendous urgency for a SBV vaccine in the UK especially given the marked increase in confirmed cases over the past year and the increasing importance to help control this devastating disease.”
“There was a tremendous urgency for a SBV vaccine in the UK especially given the marked increase in confirmed cases over the past year and the increasing importance to help control this devastating disease.”
Andras Bolcskei, MAS Animal Health UK country manager
Studies conducted by MSD Animal Health in support of the provisional marketing authorisation reported that all animals responded with formation of virus neutralizing antibodies.
During the studies, reduced viraemia (a measure of the virus entering the bloodstream) against SBV was observed in sheep vaccinated once and prevention of viraemia was observed in cattle vaccinated twice.
All animals in the control groups developed infection and became viraemic. In studies to date, Bovilis SBV has been shown to be efficacious in cattle and sheep.
The vaccine is based on wild-type SBV that has been inactivated and contains an adjuvant that stimulates the immune response.
The vaccine will be available in 20ml and 100ml vials.
Bovilis SBV is indicated for the active immunisation of cattle to prevent viraemia against SBV and for the active immunisation of sheep to reduce viraemia against SBV.
MSD Animal Health said it was working diligently to expedite stocks to the UK. Farmers interested in more information about the vaccine should contact their veterinary surgeon, it said.
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