Ovipast Plus
Active substance
ATC code
Species
Sheep.
Indications
For active the immunisation of sheep as an aid in the control of pasteurellosis caused by M.haemolytica and P.trehalosi. The vaccine maybe used as an aid in the control of pneumonic pasteurellosis in sheep of all ages from a minimum age of 3 weeks and in the control of systemic pasteurellosis in weaned fattening and breeding sheep.
The vaccine may be used in pregnant ewes as an aid in the control of pasteurellosis in their lambs provided that the lambs receive sufficient immune colostrum during the first 1-2 days of life.
Dose to be administered and administration route
The vaccine should be administered by subcutaneous injection in the lateral side of the upper neck observing aseptic precautions. All sheep not previously vaccinated with Ovipast Plus must receive two injections, each of 2.0ml, separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks. Thereafter they must receive booster injections at intervals of not more than 12 months. In adult breeding ewes these yearly booster injections should be given during the pre-lambing period, 4-6 weeks pre-lambing, as an aid in the control of pasteurellosis in their lambs.
On farms where the incidence of pasteurellosis is high, a supplementary booster vaccination with Ovipast Plus may be required 2-3 weeks prior to expected seasonal outbreaks.
The use of automatic vaccination equipment is recommended. The vaccine may be administered using a sterile needle and syringe, providing a fresh sterile needle is used each time the rubber cap is punctured, to avoid contamination of the remaining contents.
Evidence of efficacy of the Pasteurella/Mannheimia component of Heptavac P Plus was generated in an experimental infection model and it is not possible to provide duration of immunity information using this system. There are reports that active immunity will last for up to one year and that passive immunity will persist for up to 4 weeks after birth in lambs from ewes vaccinated with conventional Pasteurella vaccines.
Heptavac P Plus, Ovivac P Plus and Ovipast Plus have been developed following research and development which resulted in the application of new ‘IRP’ technology for the manufacture of the Pasteurella/Mannheimia components of these vaccines. The inclusion of these IRP components should provide enhanced efficacy and cross protection e.g. protection against serotype A12, which is not included in the vaccine, has been demonstrated.
Studies on the response of sheep to these vaccines show that two injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks are required to gain the full benefit of the ‘IRP’.
Adverse reactions
The vaccine contains an adjuvant and, as with most adjuvanted vaccines, immunisation may result in temporary swellings at the injection site. Typically, these swellings may be warm when compared to the surrounding area for up to 14 days after vaccination. Safety studies in lambs have shown that the swellings did not appear to inconvenience the animals or hinder neck movement.
As with all vaccines, occasional hypersensitivity reactions may occur.
