Avian Encephalo-myelitis Virus Vaccine (Copy)

Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) vaccine is indicated for the prevention of neurological disease in future layers and breeding chickens.

Prevent Disease in Progeny: The primary goal is to immunize breeding stock to pass passive (maternal) immunity to their chicks, protecting them from clinical AE.
Protect Future Layers: Vaccinating layer pullets prevents severe drops in egg production and quality caused by the virus.
Reduce Vertical Transmission: Protects against the virus spreading from infected hens to their eggs.

Target Animals: Chickens (breeder pullets, commercial layers) and turkeys.
Wing-Web Method: This is the most common method for individual birds.
1. The freeze-dried vaccine is reconstituted with a specific diluent just before use.
2. A two-pronged applicator (double needle) is dipped into the mixture to fill its grooves with the vaccine.
3. The applicator is then stabbed through the webbed portion of the bird’s wing, avoiding major blood vessels, bones, and muscles.
4. A “take” reaction (swelling and scab formation at the site) should be visible 7 to 10 days later, indicating successful vaccination.
Drinking Water Administration: This method is more suitable for large flocks to save man-hours, although it may require more vaccine per bird than the wing-web method. The vaccine is added to the birds’ drinking water after an initial fasting period to ensure consumption by all birds.

Timing: Typically performed when birds are between 8 and 17 weeks of age, but at least 4 weeks prior to the onset of egg production.
Purpose: The vaccine provides protection to the vaccinated flock and, in breeders, passes maternal antibodies to their chicks, protecting the progeny for the first few weeks of life.
Combination Vaccines: The AE vaccine is frequently combined with a fowl pox vaccine, or a recombinant vaccine expressing antigens for diseases like Mycoplasma gallisepticum or infectious laryngotracheitis virus.
Important Precautions: Only healthy animals should be vaccinated, and efforts should be made to reduce stress around the time of vaccination. The entire contents of a mixed vaccine should be used within a short time frame (typically one hour).