Post Coccidial- Vaccination Mangement

Ensuring and Monitoring Immunity Development 

Guidelines for Monitoring Post-Vaccine Reactions and Treatments

     The main object of using vaccine is to stimulate the development of an immune response that is effective in protecting against disease  with a minimum or absence of Post vaccination reaction
            In  the case of coccidiosis, most protection is the responsibility of cell immunity. Thus, maintenance of intestinal integrity, health status of the bird, uniformity of vaccine application and uniform oocytes cycling in the bird's intestine are critical for the success of Coccidal vaccination programs.

           Key Points

Eimeria necatrix cycling. Eimeria necatrix produces a low number of oocysts and, as a consequence,

immunity development takes longer. The excessive use of amprolium can interfere with the development

of immunity against this specie and Eimeria necatrix outbreaks can occur in birds between

4 and 6 weeks of age or later in periods of stress (feed restriction, transfers, beginning and peak

of production).

Management of birds vaccinated with Cocci vaccine.

• The brooding pen should be opened for the first time between the 3rd and 4th day of life.

• Remove the caked litter that remains around the drinkers and feeders, spreading a small

amount of this litter (only the superficial litter) over the new litter as the pen is gradually

opened. This should be done until the birds are 21 days old.

• Provide more space (new litter) for birds between 8 and 14 days of age. The goal is to distribute

the birds in the total available area as soon as possible, as shown in the chart below.

Observation: This should be done until the birds are 21 days old.

• Provide more space (new litter) for birds between 8 and 14 days of age. The goal is to distribute

the birds in the total available area as soon as possible, as shown in the chart below.

Suggested standardization of the stock density per square meter 

Observation: This information should take into account the specific housing 

                    standards for each breed provided by their Management Manual.

Special attention to the feeding of the birds

• During the first 4 weeks of the bird's life, none of the following products should be given:

Chlortetracycline, Oxytetracycline, Nitrofurans, Olaquindox, Furazolidone and Sulphas.

• No anticoccidial drug should be given at any time during the bird’s life.

• The use of antibiotic growth promoters, Gram + and Gram – (with exception of those listed

above), probiotics, prebiotics, competitive exclusion products, etc. do not interfere with the

activity of the vaccine. These products have a positive effect on the program as they contribute

to maintain intestinal integrity, mainly during the phase of immunity development and in the

periods of highest exposure to enteric challenges (feed restriction).

Monitoring and management of vaccine uptake and immunity development

• It should always be remembered that the control of coccidiosis through vaccination is a

biological process that requires controlled exposure to live organisms. Coccivac®-D vaccine

induces mild, early and predictable lesions, essential for the development of immunity against

coccidiosis. The use of any anticoccidial drug, even amprolium, should therefore be avoided

in birds vaccinated with Coccivac®-D vaccine.

        Monitoring by lesion score

1.1 Pre-starter monitoring: 10 days of age

Five birds (3 females and 2 males) per flock are necropsied. They are randomly chosen and

Should be representative (culled or sick birds are not included).

STANDARD:

• Less than 50% of the birds may have Grade +1 of Eimeria acervulina

• Less than 25% may have up to Grade +2

• No lesions caused by Eimeria maxima or Eimeria tenella should be found at all.

MEDICATION SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY IF:

• More than 50% of the birds have Grade +2 or greater of Eimeria acervulina

or

• Severe lesions caused by Eimeria tenella or Eimeria maxima are evident

■ In this case, treatment with 1/4 dose of amprolium/1,000 liters of water/48 hours

(2 days, day 10 and day 11) should be given.

■ If mild coccidiosis lesions are found and are clearly causing a negative impact on feed

Consumption, a 2 day-treatment with liquid vitamins (mainly A and C) should be given.

■ If coccidiosis lesions requiring medication are found often in a monitored farm:

• The operational procedures of vaccine administration should be checked;

• The management procedures, as well as pen opening, should be checked and adjusted

Accordingly. Often problems can be controlled by increasing the space provided to the

Birds between 7 and 9 days of age.

1.2 Starter monitoring: 16 days of age

If the lesions are within the expected patterns at 10 days of age, the second monitoring

should take place at 16 days of age. The mortality curve should be monitored and only the

dead birds are necropsied between 15 and 16 days.

MEDICATION SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY IF:

• There is a significant alteration in the mortality curve

• If ceca full of blood are found during necropsy of birds found dead

• Blood droppings are present in the litter

• The flock has a high morbidity

• No medication was given on day 10

■ In this case, treatment with 1/4 dose of amprolium/1,000 liters of water/48 hours

(day 16 and day 17) should be given.

1.3 Growth monitoring: between 21 and 25 days of age

This is the most critical period, when the peak of reactions to vaccine occurs, the feed

restriction skip-a-day program is started and the first selection takes place.

Five birds (3 females and 2 males) per flock are necropsied. They are randomly chosen and

should be representative (culled or sick birds are not included).

STANDARD:

• Birds with lesion scores (degree and morbidity) within the standard presented in the

monitoring section on pages 3-6

• Less than 5% of the birds do not go to the feeder when stimulated

• Less than 1% of the litter contains bloody droppings

MEDICATION SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY IF:

• The lesion scores are not within the standard shown in the monitoring section on pages 3-6

• More than 5% of the birds do go to the feeder when stimulated

• More than 1% of the litter contains bloody droppings

1.4 Final monitoring: between 8 and 10 weeks of age

Five birds (3 females and 2 males) per flock are necropsied. They are randomly chosen and

should be representative (culled or sick birds are not included).

          Please read carefully to follow up the Post Cocci-Vac D Vaccination Management and to achieve                 best results from the Vaccination. Thanks