Merck Animal Health just announced the launch of Bovilis Coronavirus, the first USDA-approved modified-live intranasal vaccine to aid in reduction of enteric disease caused by bovine coronavirus (BCV).

This intranasal vaccine is approved for use in calves as young as 3 days of age.

Most severe during winter months, BCV is often prevalent in cow/calf beef herds and dairy calves, and is frequently diagnosed as the leading pathogen in neonatal calves.

BCV is commonly transferred by animals during periods of stress, including shipping, parturition, cold weather, commingling or delivery to a backgrounding facility or feedyard. Scours and winter dysentery are often the two signs that signal the presence of BCV.

A 2012 study at the University of Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratory tested 147 herds and found nearly half (49.4%) of the herds to be positive for BCV. In related research at Oklahoma State University, 37% of BCV cases are found in calves from birth to 30 days old.

Product research results showed the occurrence of scours in Bovilis Coronavirus-vaccinated calves was reduced by one-third and average duration of clinical signs was reduced to 3.40 days. This compares with an average of nearly seven (6.82) days in the control group. In addition, the severity of the symptoms was significantly less in the vaccinated calves, compared with the control group. Results of the safety trials demonstrated the vaccine is safe to use in calves as young as 1 day of age.

In addition, the combination of vaccinating both dams and calves is critical to best management practices for scours protection. “Consistent vaccination of dams with Guardian and calves with Bovilis Coronavirus can greatly reduce the impact of BCV in the herd and helps ensure the maternal antibodies are passed through to the calves,” says Scott Nordstrom, Merck Animal Health veterinarian.

Bovilis Coronavirus is available in 25-dose trays, 10-dose and 50-dose bottles. Guardian is available in 10-dose and 50-dose bottles.