Here’s a look at news shared by companies in the U.S. pork industry.
Merck Animal Health Receives License Approval for CIRCUMVENT CML Vaccine
Merck Animal Health announced it has received license approval for Circumvent CML vaccine in the U.S. from the USDA.
Circumvent CML is the first-ready-to-use, single-dose vaccine effective against disease caused by Porcine Circovirus Types 2a and 2d, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Lawsonia intracellularis in pigs, three weeks of age or older.
“Merck Animal Health is excited to bring this important innovation to our customers as part of our commitment to offering comprehensive solutions for improved animal health outcomes,” Jamie Lehman, D.V.M., Swine Technical Services Veterinarian, Merck Animal Health, said in a release. “This vaccine nicely complements Circumvent PCV G2, PCV-M G2 and Porcilis Ileitis product portfolio, providing swine veterinarians and producers the additional option of vaccinating against disease caused by PCV2, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Lawsonia intracellularis all in one bottle.”
Circumvent CML will be commercially available starting in early 2023. It will come in 50-ml, 250-ml, and eventually, 500-ml dose presentations. To learn more, visit www.drivenbyprevention.com.
DNA Genetics Launches New Website
Nebraska-based, family-owned swine genetics company, DNA Genetics, recently launched a revamped website, the company announced in a release. While the overall look and feel of the website is drastically different, DNA Genetics says the content is still focused on what matters: showcasing the company’s swine genetic advancement program.
“Much like genetics, websites are constantly changing and evolving as technology progresses,” said Kurtis Harms, director of marketing with DNA Genetics, said in a release. “At DNA Genetics, we’re always striving to improve the overall user experience. Whether current or potential customers prefer to interface with us in-person or online, we want to make each impression a positive interaction.”
At the new DNASwineGenetics.com, visitors can find detailed information on the company’s industry-leading product lines, including the Maternal Line 241 and the Terminal Line 600 Duroc, the company said. In addition to an overview on each product line, all current customers will have access to technical resources through the “Support” tab on the new website. Through this link, a series of helpful documents and videos are available to help producers on a variety of issues, from nutrition to biosecurity. From the website, product orders can be made easily through the prominent “Easy Link” tab.
Zoetis Bivalent Vaccine Outperformed Monovalent Vaccine Amid Emerging PCV2 Variants in New Study
New research published in the peer-reviewed journal Veterinary Research and shared at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians 2022 Annual Meeting shows that when compared to monovalent vaccines against the fast-evolving porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Fostera Gold PCV MH bivalent vaccine demonstrated reduced viremia and fecal shedding in a challenge study, Zoetis reports in a release.
“The new study suggested that the virus protection was better when using the bivalent vaccine compared to a monovalent, even when the monovalent was the same as the challenge,” Dr. Meggan Bandrick, Director, Global Biologics Research for Zoetis, said in the release. “That’s important because we know that PCV2 is evolving and exists on a continuum, based on the epidemiological patterns we see in the field. So having both PCV2a and PCV2b in the vaccine offered protection against the continuum, in a study.”
The research demonstrated: 1) a bivalent PCV2 vaccine (PCV2a/b) should offer improved coverage due to homologous protection against the variable PCV2 strains circulating in swine herds, and 2) a bivalent PCV2 vaccine showed a decrease in viremia and fecal shedding compared to monovalent vaccines.
A recent comparative evaluation of growth performance in 21-day old pigs suggested that pigs vaccinated with vaccines containing PCV2a, PCV2b and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) exhibited significantly better growth performance when compared with pigs vaccinated with vaccines containing only PCV2a and Mhp, potentially due to increased coverage against the field PCV2d strain. The PCV2a/b and Mhp vaccinated pigs also reduced the amount of PCV2d loads in the blood and feces and resulted in a lower Mhp load in the larynx when compared with PCV2a and Mhp vaccinated pigs, the release said.
First introduced in 2018, Fostera Gold PCV MH is the only vaccine, according to the release, to contain two PCV2 genotypes — 2a and 2b — and Mhp coverage. Together, the two genotypes provide the broadest antigenic coverage against evolving PCV2 viruses in U.S. swine herds as well as the longest-lasting, with a 23-week duration of immunity.
This vaccine has been predicted to have on average 34% more antigenic coverage than competitor vaccines to PCV2 strains, and now Fostera Gold PCV MH and Fostera Gold PCV are the only PCV2 vaccines approved as safe for use in pregnant sows and gilts, the company said.
Learn more at www.zoetis.com.
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