MSD AH to showcase science-driven solutions at IPVS

//30 May 2012
MSD Animal Health’s commitment to developing, science-driven solutions for healthy livestock will be clearly evident at the 22nd International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) congress in Jeju, South Korea, 10-13 June.
During the three-day conference, MSD Animal Health researchers and swine-health specialists will make 18 presentations on a wide range of swine-production topics, including reproductive management, parasite control and effective strategies for managing porcine circovirus and PRRS.

As an Industry Partner, the highest level of congress sponsorship, MSD Animal Health will also host a satellite symposium on Tuesday, 12 June at 17.00, to present studies with Zuprevo (tildipirosin), a new injectable antimicrobial for swine respiratory disease, and three of the company’s field-proven vaccines — CircumventPCV, Porcilis PCV and Porcilis PRRS. The event is open to all registered attendees of the IPVS congress. Additional information will be available at the MSD Animal Health exhibit.

For more information, veterinarians should contact their local MSD Animal Health representative or visit msd-animal-health.com

MSD AH to showcase science-driven solutions at IPVS

//30 May 2012
MSD Animal Health’s commitment to developing, science-driven solutions for healthy livestock will be clearly evident at the 22nd International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) congress in Jeju, South Korea, 10-13 June.
During the three-day conference, MSD Animal Health researchers and swine-health specialists will make 18 presentations on a wide range of swine-production topics, including reproductive management, parasite control and effective strategies for managing porcine circovirus and PRRS.

As an Industry Partner, the highest level of congress sponsorship, MSD Animal Health will also host a satellite symposium on Tuesday, 12 June at 17.00, to present studies with Zuprevo (tildipirosin), a new injectable antimicrobial for swine respiratory disease, and three of the company’s field-proven vaccines — CircumventPCV, Porcilis PCV and Porcilis PRRS. The event is open to all registered attendees of the IPVS congress. Additional information will be available at the MSD Animal Health exhibit.

For more information, veterinarians should contact their local MSD Animal Health representative or visit msd-animal-health.com

Colombia reports two swine deaths by Anthrax

//30 May 2012
Colombia has reported to the OIE an anthrax outbreak in the north of the country, in the La Guajira province in the town of Manaure on the Caribbean coast.
Laboratory analysis undertaken by the National Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Bogata confirmed positive results for the Bacillus anthracis pathogen in sheep and goats from the ingenous community to whom the affected population belongs. Among the goats and sheep, six pigs are present, two of which have died. The OIE report mentions among the stricken a person with skin lesions.

The epidemic is ongoing and normal control measures are being followed: quarantine, control of movement within the country, and vaccination of the susceptible species. The community has been further instructed on the disposal protocol, and warned against eating or handling the dead animals.

MSD AH product gets approval in Europe

//31 May 2012
MSD Animal Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the USA and Canada) recently obtained regulatory approval in 21 European countries for Cobactan LA 7.5% (cefquinome) - a new-generation, injectable antimicrobial for the treatment of swine respiratory disease (SRD).
“Cobactan LA 7.5% is a long-acting version of our highly effective Cobactan 2.5%,” said Raul Berro, DVM, global marketing director swine at MSD Animal Health. “Its longer duration of action means greater compliance for swine producers with fewer injections and less stress to the animals, without sacrificing performance.”

The long-acting antibiotic formulation is effective against three major SRD pathogens in growing and finishing pigs — Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Pasteurella multocida.

Considered the most important threat to the swine industry worldwide, SRD causes increased mortality, decreased weight gain and increased feed consumption. Recent research data show SRD is responsible for up to 44.2 percent of nursery deaths and 61.1 percent of grow/finish deaths.

Berro explained that Cobactan LA 7.5% requires only two intramuscular injections 48 hours apart, compared to Cobactan 2.5%, which requires three daily injections. The recommended dose rate is 1 mL (3 mg cefquinome) per 25 kg bodyweight. The product is available in 50-ml, 100-ml and 250-ml glass vials.

“Cobactan LA 7.5% also has a short withdrawal period of seven days,” Berro added. “This makes the injectable product also safe to use throughout the finishing period for the treatment of SRD.”

The use of Cobactan LA 7.5% should be according to established responsible use guidelines and strictly according to the label instructions where specific restrictions apply to this class of antibiotics.

The development of Cobactan LA 7.5% is the latest product in the field-proven line of COBACTAN products for swine, cattle and horses. Since its introduction in 1994, Cobactan has proven to be an effective, fast-acting antimicrobial.

For more information: MSD AH

Largest pig complex in Russia to be constructed

//31 May 2012
Agro-industrial holding Bio-tone has announced plans to begin construction of a large pork production complex in September in Russia with the total investment amount of 18 billion roubles (US$ 510 million).
The new complex will produce 96 thousands tonnes of pork per year. The pig houses will be designed for 480 thousands pigs of simultaneous keeping. The new complex will be the largest in Russia.
The preliminary date of the project implementation is the middle of 2017. The complex will be constructed in the Samara region in the south-east of the European part of Russia.

It will be constructed with the support of the Russian Agricultural Bank (RAB) and the Government of the Samara Region. The complex will have a closed production cycle and only the most modern and advanced equipment, according to representatives of the project.

"The company will bring together all parts of the production cycle: feed mill, eight modules for pig growing and fattening, as well as facilities for the primary processing of products. The pig houses will be designed for the 480,000 animals. It will be the nation's largest high-tech pig-breeding complex," representatives of the company Bio-tone stated.

The complex will be built withstrong support from the state. The Agricultural Bank will provide investors with the full range its offerings, thus providing loans on the most attractive and concessionary terms.


(By Vladislav Vorotnikov)

Salmonella outbreaks traceable to mail-order chicks

//31 May 2012
The New England Journal of Medicine has published a study linking several US Salmonella outbreaks in the last eight years to a mail-order hatchery, Bloomberg reports.
The US Centers for Disease Control said that at least 316 people across 43 states has fallen ill due to salmonella infections traceable to the baby chicks sent from a mail-order hatchery. The mail-order hatchery industry, which is reporting record sales due to a boom of interest in raising backyard flocks and urban chickens, is becoming an important unwitting transmitter of sick birds.

The hatchery in question, not specifically named in the report, ships about four million birds per year. The hatchery has since taken advice and improved its biosecurity measures.

The added danger of backyard flocks and urban chickens is their increased exposure to wild animals, which could increase the dispersion of an outbreak.

The study in the NEJM studied the Salmonella outbreak that raged from 2004 to 2011, eight years spread across several states, sickening a broad age group (one month to 86 years). The study reports that the median age of those that fell ill, however, was four years.

The article is available at NEJM

Newcastle Disease reported in Italian region

//31 May 2012
The Italian veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease in Piemonte in the north of the country.
The outbreak involves pigeons kept in a backyard farm. Out of a total of 24 susceptible birds, eight cases were reported. While one death was recorded, the remaining seven affected birds were destroyed.

According to Chapter 10.9 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2011), the notification of this outbreak does not change the Newcastle disease free status of Italy and should not affect trade of poultry and their products since the birds involved in this outbreak do not fall within the OIE definition of poultry.

The source of the outbreak has not been discovered.

Source: OIE