DURHAM, N.C.--The U.S. poultry industry has the potential to achieve new
standards of health and efficiency with the advent of the first-ever
coccidiosis vaccine delivered via in ovoadministration. The new
Inovocox® vaccine from the Poultry Health Division of Pfizer Animal
Health (PPH) will provide an innovative tool for the broiler industry to
help control one of the global poultry industry’s most prevalent and
costly diseases.
The coccidiosis challenge
Coccidiosis is an intestinal parasitic infection that is endemic to
poultry production, and can cause considerable economic loss to the
poultry industry in the form of lost growth and feed conversion
efficiency, mortality, and medication and treatment costs. The economic
impact of the disease on the world poultry industry is estimated to
exceed US $3 billion annually.
Novel vaccine, state-of-the-art delivery
Pfizer Animal Health has invested greater than 10 years into the
research and development of this advanced vaccine, which is delivered to
the egg even before the chicks are hatched. Inovocox is administered in
ovoto eighteen- or nineteen-day-old embryonated broiler chick eggs
via the technologically advanced Embrex® Inovoject® System.
Traditional coccidiosis control programs depend upon a feed administered
anticoccidial drug or a vaccine that may be administered via spray to
the chicks. “The in ovoadministration of Inovocox helps ensure
that every bird receives a uniform dose for effective protection,” says
Rebecca Poston, PhD, senior manager of Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary
Medicine Research & Development (VMRD). “This breakthrough technology is
based on more than a decade of research, involving millions of birds, to
evaluate Inovocox for efficacy and safety.”
Inovocox vaccine contains highly immunogenic, anticoccidial-sensitive,
sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina, E. tenella, and two
strains of E. maxima. The strains originated from field isolates,
which were screened and selected for their ability to help protect
against challenge when administered in ovo,and for their
sensitivity to anticoccidial drugs. Pfizer Animal Health researchers
deemed it advantageous to include two strains of E. maxima,
because of the more common field variation of this species which may
help enhance the vaccine’s total protection package against the strains
commonly found on poultry farms.
Pre-hatch exposure to coccidial organisms will allow birds to develop
early immunity to the disease. Early and uniform flock immunity to
coccidiosis helps provide control of clinical and subclinical
coccidiosis and may result in more uniform growth and development of the
flock throughout the grow-out.
Extensive safety studies show that Inovocox has no significant effect on
hatch rate. Performance trials show Inovocox-vaccinated flocks will help
provide attractive weight gain, feed conversion and settlement costs. In
addition, Inovocox vaccine may be used as a year-round coccidiosis
control program, or as part of an annual rotation program.
“One dose of Inovocox helps provide broiler birds with lifelong immunity
against coccidiosis,” notes David Kelly, marketing manager, PPH. “This
novel vaccine leverages the highly innovative Embrex Inovoject System,
which already is utilized by more than 85 percent of the U.S. broiler
industry. Inovocox helps provide the most convenient, efficient and
precise method of coccidiosis protection possible.”
The Poultry Health Division of Pfizer Animal Health is a leading
provider of innovative, high-performance poultry health solutions to the
global poultry industry. Built upon the combined strength and experience
of Embrex and Pfizer Animal Heath, the Pfizer Poultry Health is
committed to developing and marketing commercially novel vaccines,
mechanical and data management products which continue to provide
increasing value to the global poultry health industry. For more
information about the Pfizer Poultry Health, visit us online at www.pfizerpoultryhealth.com.
For More Information:
Melinda Freson
Pfizer Poultry Health
919-314-2698
melinda.freson@pfizer.com
or
Jill Spiekerman-Carrothers
MartinWilliams
515-971-9613
j.spiekerman@martinwilliams.com