Merial launches new trivalent swine vaccine

French animal health company Merial has launched a new vaccine Gripovac 3, is said to be the first-ever trivalent vaccine against swine influenza and also includes protection against AH1N1 and H3N2 subtypes.

The three strains contained in the vaccine are recent and are of European origin. The H1N2 strain has been found in several EU countries at a variable rate of prevalence: 89% of positive farms in Belgium, 54% in France, 48% in Spain and 41% in the Netherlands.

Influenza viruses are the major pathogens involved in acute respiratory disorders, and hyperthermia in sows can cause serious reproductive problems, including abortions. Economic losses incurred by swine influenza are estimated at EUR28 per sow per year.

According to Merial, the safety of the new vaccine means that it can be used at all stages of production of sows and gilts, and also fatteners.

The vaccination schedule for sows consists of two 2-ml injections at a three-week interval for the primary vaccination, and a booster at each gestation or subsequent lactations. If the booster is done two weeks prior to farrowing, piglets will be protected via colostral immunity.

The new vaccine, developed with IDT-Biologika, was granted market authorisation on January 14, 2010, by the European Commission and will be distributed by Merial in all countries of the EMEA region except Germany (IDT) in 25 or 50-dose bottles according to the country.

Progressively it will replace Merial's current swine influenza vaccine Gripovac, which contains only H3N2 and H1N1 subtypes.