Nobilis ND Clone 30 Live Lyophilisate for Oculonasal Suspension/Use in Drinking Water for Chickens and Turkeys

and nares, use Nobilis Diluent Oculo Nasal.
The vaccine may be delivered as a freeze-dried cake in a glass vial or as freeze-
dried spheres in cups. In case of the product presented in cups, do not use the
product if the contents are brownish and stick to the container as this indicates that
the integrity of the container has been breached. Each container should be used
immediately and completely after opening.
Chickens:
The vaccine can be administered to 1-day old chicks and older chickens by coarse
spray or by the intranasal/ocular route of administration.
The vaccine can be administered to 7-day and older chicks by drinking water.
Turkeys:
The vaccine has been shown to be efficacious when administered in the drinking
water to antibody free turkeys of 2 weeks of age. Evidence for the safe use of this
vaccine in turkeys is limited but field experience indicates that the vaccine may be
safely administered to turkeys from 1 – 2 weeks of age via drinking water or coarse
spray routes of administration.
Drinking water
When administering the vaccine by drinking water use cool, clean water
supplemented with 2 grams of skimmed milk powder or 50 ml of liquid skimmed milk
per litre to dissolve the vaccine, as it is known that this will make the virus retain its
activity.
Reconstitution of vaccine:
The vials should be opened under water or the content of the cup(s) should be
poured into the water. In both cases mix the water containing the vaccine well before
use. 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 or cups used
are emptied. After reconstitution the suspension looks clear.
Offer to birds immediately.
Use clean cold water, which is free of iron and chlorine. Where water sanitisers are
used consult MSD Animal Health technical staff. Chlorine at levels as low as 1 ppm is
known to have a detrimental effect on vaccine virus stability, therefore the use of
liquid skimmed milk is recommended to prolong the life of the virus. By adding 2
grams skimmed milk powder per litre water the virus retains its activity much longer.
This may be added to the water at the rate of 500 ml (approximately 1 pint) per 10
litres of water. After mixing well, the solution should be allowed to stand for 15 – 30
minutes before adding the vaccine. 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.
Ensure uptake of all the vaccine medicated water in 2 hours. Depending on the
weather conditions, it may be advisable to deprive the birds of water prior to
vaccination. A sufficient number of water containers to provide adequate drinking
space is essential. These should be clean and free from traces of detergents and
disinfectants. Dissolve 1 000 doses in as many litres of water as the age of the birds
in days, to a maximum of 40 litres.
The vaccine should be given in the early morning as this is the main period of
drinking or the cool period on a hot day. When vaccinating larger flocks, it is
advisable to start by dissolving only part of the vaccine. If vaccine is administered
through a central water supply or a proportioner, great care should be taken. For
numbers of birds between standard dosages, the next higher dosage should be
chosen.
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:
Dissolve 1 000 doses in as many litres of water as the age of the birds in days, to a
maximum of 40 litres. 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 received 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. The following points have been found to improve
vaccine "take":
1. Water withholding should be kept to a minimum. 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. 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
and will be less stressful to the birds. Performance should therefore be less
adversely affected.
Coarse spray vaccination of day-old chicks:
This technique has been developed for use in very young chicks. Reconstitute the
vaccine in cool, clean water, to which 2% skimmed milk may be added. The vials
should be opened under water or the content of the cup(s) should be poured into
water. Chlorinated water should not be used. In both cases mix the water containing
vaccine well before use. After reconstitution the suspension looks clear. The water
and spray apparatus should be free from sediments, corrosion and traces of
disinfectants or antiseptics. Ideally the apparatus should be used for vaccination
purposes only. The volume of diluent 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, but 250 to 500 ml of
water per 1 000 doses is suggested. The vaccine suspension should be spread
evenly over the birds, at a distance of 30 – 40 cm (12 – 16”), preferably when the
birds are sitting together in dim light. If applicable, reduce or stop ventilation to
prevent loss of spray.
For further information on use of a vaccine in specific circumstances consult MSD
Animal Health technical staff.
Instillation into the eyes and nares:
Reconstitute the vaccine with the appropriate amount of a suitable solvent and
administer by means of the standardised dropper (of which the droplet size is known
and consistent). The amount of solvent required for eye- or nares-drop administration
depends on the number of doses and the droplet size, but approximately 35 ml per
1 000 doses is used. One drop should be applied into one nare or one eye. Ensure
that the intranasal drop is inhaled before freeing the bird. For eye or nare-drop
administration, use Nobilis Diluent Oculo Nasal.
Vaccination programme:
The optimal time and method of administration depend largely upon the local
situation.
Revaccination:
If prolonged immunity is required, the chickens can be revaccinated every 6 weeks
and turkeys every 4 weeks.