Merck Animal Health has just introduced Nasalgen 3, a three-way intranasal vaccine that protects beef and dairy cattle from the most common pneumonia-causing viral pathogens.

Administering intranasal vaccines to neonatal calves is considered one of the most effective strategies to put protective immunity in place quickly and establish a strong foundation for future respiratory protection. Nasal administration generally isn’t considered to be affected by maternal antibodies.

Merck says Nasalgen 3 has the longest six-and-a-half-month duration of immunity (DOI) against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), an 11-week DOI against bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and a three-month DOI against parainfluenza 3 (PI3).

“Nasalgen 3 mimics natural exposure to the most common pneumonia viruses,” says Scott Nordstrom, D.V.M., associate director of ruminant life cycle management, Merck Animal Health. “The intranasal administration of Nasalgen 3 stimulates a strong, early immune response because the vaccine antigens are delivered to mucosal surfaces in the nose – an area loaded with immunologically active tissues.”

Nasalgen intranasal vaccines avoid interference from maternal antibodies in colostrum that can block injectable vaccines and are less stressful on calves compared to similar injectable vaccinations. Nasalgen 3 also is designed with an IBR that is not temperature-sensitive, so the vaccine will replicate and protect in a moderate to high temperature environment, Merck says.

The unique blue shadow dye clearly indicates which animals have been vaccinated.

To learn more about the newest option in intranasal respiratory vaccines visit www.Nasalgen.com.

Source: Merck Animal Health, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.