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A variety of equine influenza vaccines are available (Vaccines by manufacturer).
In order to be effective, it is important that vaccines contain viruses similar to strains circulating in the field. An Expert Surveillance Panel meets on an annual basis to recommend the composition of vaccines for the following year (Vaccine strain selection).
Vaccination schedules generally require a primary course of 2 doses, 3-6 weeks apart, followed by boosters at 6-12 month intervals. It is generally recognised that in many cases such schedules may not maintain protective levels of antibody and more frequent administration is advised in high-risk situations.
Vaccines by manufacturer/country
* Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Inc
* Fort Dodge Animal Health
* Heska Corporation
* Intervet Inc
* Merial
* Schering-Plough Animal Health
* JapanConclusions and recommendations from the meeting of the Expert Surveillance Panel
2008 (click here to download pdf)
* UK Jockey Club Regulations for Equine Influenza Vaccination
* FEI Rules for Equine Influenza Vaccination
Different Types of vaccines against equine influenza
Commercialised vaccines against Equine Influenza can be divided into 4 categories.
Inactivated virus vaccine: Since the introduction of EIV vaccines in the 1960s, the majority of vaccines commercially available have been inactivated whole virus (Figure 1).
- The main advantages of these vaccines are the absence of pathogenicity, virus replication and subsequent spread between hosts. Influenza virus has been traditionally grown in embryonated hens’ eggs for the preparation of these vaccines.
- Viruses were treated with either formaldehyde or -propriolactone for virus inactivation.
- This inactivated virus is often mixed with an adjuvant that improves the strength and duration of the immune response.
- Protection induced by conventional inactivated EIV vaccines remains constrained by the requirement of a correct match between vaccine and field strains of EIV.
In the last decade, a whole generation of vaccines have been designed to stimulate a virus-specific immune response aimed to mimic immunity induced by natural infection with EIV, to provide a long lasting protection involving both humoral and cellular immune responses, and therefore to minimise the effect of a strain mismatch.
Sub-unit vaccine: Current subunit vaccines against EIV contain purified HA and NA proteins. The main types of vaccines are:
- Immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOM)-based vaccines. ISCOM particles are spontaneously formed cage-like structures resulting from the combination of antigens with cholesterol, phospholipids and Quillaja saponins (Figure 2).
- ISCOMATRIX vaccine, identical to the ISCOM vaccine except the antigen is not bound within the cage structure of the ISCOM.
Live-attenuated virus vaccine: This vaccine contains a temperature-sensitive (Ts) influenza virus that multiplies efficiently in the cooler environment of the upper respiratory tract where immune responses are induced but does not replicate in the warmer environment of the lower respiratory tract in horses, therefore, avoiding clinical sign of disease.
Example of commercialised vaccines: FluAvertTM (USA)Canarypox-based vaccine: This category contains live recombinant vector vaccines, constructed by inserting selected genes from EIV into live, infectious, but non-disease-causing canarypox viruses (Figure 3).
Vaccines by manufacturer
The following information is correct to the best of our knowledge. Please report any errors to info@equiflunet.co.uk.
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Inc (http://www.bi-nobl.com/)
Newmarket/77 (H7N7)
Newmarket/2/93 (H3N8; European)
Kentucky/95 (H3N8; American)
HI (converting to SRH)Vaccine Updated – Press Release 5/08 Calvenza-03 Ohio/03 (H3N8, Florida)
Kentucky/95 (H3N8; American)
Newmarket/2/93 (H3N8; European)CCA (converting to SRD)
HI (converting to SRH)Schedule (product datasheet): Intramuscular or intramuscular/intranasal. Second vaccination given approx. 4 weeks after the first and the third dose at 6 months after the second vaccination.
Fort Dodge Animal Health (http://www.wyeth.com/divisions/fort_dodge.asp)
Finland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Miami/63 (H3N8)
Suffolk/89 (H3N8)
(When approved by all countries, this vaccine will replace the product listed above)
Ireland
Switzerland
UK
Germany
(pending in a number of countries)
Suffolk/89 (H3N8;European)
Newmarket/1/93 (H3N8;American)
Belgium
Finland
Hong Kong
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Miami/63 (H3N8)
Suffolk/89 (H3N8)
Inactivated
Aluminium
hydroxide
(When approved by all countries, this vaccine will replace the product listed above)
Ireland
Switzerland
UK
Germany
(pending in a number of countries
Suffolk/89 (H3N8;European)
Newmarket/1/93 (H3N8;American)
Aluminium
hydroxide
USA
Kentucky/92 (H3N8)
Kentucky/97 (H3N8)
New Zealand
South Africa
USA
Kentucky/92 (H3N8)
EHV-4
Kentucky/97 (H3N8)
EHV-4
Kentucky/97 (H3N8)
WEE
Tetanus
Kentucky/92 (H3N8)
WEE
Tetanus
New Zealand
USA
Kentucky/92 (H3N8)
WEE
Tetanus
Fluvac Innovator Double EFT+EHV
Canada
Kentucky/97 (H3N8)
WEE
Tetanus
EHV-1
EHV-4
Kentucky/97 (H3N8)
WEE
VEE
Tetanus
EHV-1
EHV-4
Kentucky/97 (H3N8)
WEE
VEE
Tetanus
Finland
Italy
Norway
Spain
Lexington/63 (H3N8)
Kentucky/81 (H3N8)
Denmark
Finland
France
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Switzerland
Spain
EHV-4
EEE=Eastern equine encephalitis virus, WEE=Western equine encephalitis virus,
VEE=Venezuelan equine envephalitis virus
Heska Corporation (http://www.heska.com)In July 2002, Heska licensed the worldwide rights (outside of Canada and South Africa) for the Flu Avert I.N. vaccine to Intervet. Therefore Intervet now markets the vaccine in the USA. Heska continues to manufacture the vaccine for Intervet and also markets the vaccine in Canada through its distributor Novartis Animal Health Canada.
Countries Influenza strains Nature of influenza components Other components Adjuvant Potency USA and Canada Kentucky/91 (H3N8) Modified live virus (cold-adapted) N/A N/A Schedule (product datasheet): Administer a single 1.0ml dose intranasally in one nostril. For primary immunisation, a single dose is required in horses 11 months of age or older. Horses vaccinated at less than 11 months of age should be given a dose of the vaccine at age 11 months. Revaccination every 6 months is recommended. Horses at high risk of exposure may benefit from vaccination every 3 months. N/A = not applicable
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health
Equilis Prequenza / Equilis Prequenza Te
Entire EU (including SUI, NOR, FI)
+ CAN, MEX, SA
Prague/56 (H7N7)
Newmarket/1/93
(H3N8; American)
Newmarket/2/93
(H3N8; European)saponin
(ISCOM-Matrix)
HIEquilis Resequin
(Resequin NN plus) (Resequin Vet.)Austria
Belgium
Switzerland
Germany
Denmark
Greece
Spain
Finland
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
UK
Newmarket/1/93
(H3N8; American)
Newmarket/2/93
(H3N8; European)
hydroxide
EHV-4
SRHEquicine II
USA
CanadaPennsylvania/63 (H7N7)
Kentucky/93 (H3N8)
hydroxide
VNPrestige II
USA
Canada
Kentucky/93 (H3N8)
EHV-4Prestige V
CanadaAs above
EHV-4
EEE
WEE
Tetanus
Canada
WEE
Tetanus
Merial (http://us.merial.com)
? H3N8
WEE
Tetanus
France/79 (H3N8)
Kentucky/94
(H3N8;American)
* PureVax is a recombinant attenuated canarypox strain coding for the HA genes of the influenza viruses.
Kentucky/94 (H3N8;American)ProteqFlu™ - Updated product available end August ’08 in UK
Ohio/03
(H3N8;Florida)
* PureVax is a recombinant attenuated canarypox strain coding for the HA genes of the influenza viruses.
Ohio/03
(H3N8;Florida)
Schering-Plough Animal Health (http://usa.spah.com/usa/horses/index.cfm)
Finland
Sweden
Denmark
Iceland
Germany*
UK
Ireland
France
Switzerland
Borlänge/91 (H3N8;European)
Kentucky/98
(H3N8;American)
subunit
ELISA
Finland
Sweden
Denmark
Iceland
Germany*
UK
Ireland
France
Switzerland
Belgium
Netherlands
Portugal
Italy
Borlänge/91 (H3N8;European)
Kentucky/98
(H3N8;American)
subunit
ELISA
? H3N8
WEE
Tetanus* Essex Tierarznei = Schering Plough Animal Health in Germany
La Plata/93
(H3N8;American)
Avesta/93
(H3N8;European)
Vaccination schedules
UK Jockey Club Regulations for Equine Influenza Vaccination
The UK Jockey Club and other event organising authorities recognise the great importance of protecting against equine influenza. Therefore they have strict vaccination requirements which must be complied with if you wish your horse to enter their competitions or onto their premises. If you fail to comply with their regulations your horse will be barred from entry onto the site.
1st equine influenza vaccination
2nd vaccination after 21 to 92 days from 1st vaccination
3rd vaccination after 150 to 215 days from 2nd vaccination
Thereafter annually, with the last permissible day being the same date as the previous year's vaccination.
Horses may not race until the 8th day after the day of vaccination.
t is the owner or trainer's legal responsibility to ensure that the horse's vaccination records comply with the Jockey Club regulations.
Societies which demand compliance with the Jockey Club Regulations on vaccination against equine influenza include:
- The British Horse Trials Association
- British Endurance Riding Association
- Events which take place upon race courses or Jockey Club land.
FEI Rules for Equine Influenza Vaccination
The FEI annual influenza vaccination requirements were changed to a bi-annual (once per 6 months) rule during the 2004 General Assembly. The year 2005 will be used as a transition year, in which riders, trainers and vets can get used to the new requirements. Only in 2006 fines will be given if the new requirements are not adhered to. The year 2005 will be used for education and not for fines. Some questions were raised as to horses that have been on an annual schedule until now and whether these horses required a new primary vaccination to start the bi-annual system. This is not the case. Horses can move directly from annual to bi-annual, without any further vaccinations.
The FEI requires all horses competing in FEI competition to provide evidence of sufficient vaccination against equine influenza. This involves regular six monthly booster vaccinations following a primary vaccination course, as from January 2005. All horses and ponies for which an FEI Passport or a National Passport approved by the FEI has been issued must have the vaccination section completed and endorsed by a veterinarian, stating that it has received two injections for primary vaccination against equine influenza, given between 1 and 3 months apart. In addition, a booster vaccination must be administered within each succeeding 6 months (± 21 days) following the second vaccination of the primary course. None of these injections must have been given within the preceding 7 days including the day of the competition or of entry into the competition stables.
The above are the minimum requirements for influenza vaccination. The primary course and subsequent booster vaccinations should be given according to the manufacturer's instructions that will fall within the stipulation of the FEI ruling.
Societies that require compliance with the FEI Regulations include:
- British Horse Driving Trials Association.
- BSJA when competing internationally.
It is the legal responsibility of the owner or trainer to ensure that a horse's vaccination records comply with the regulations of the organisation or show in which they wish to compete.