Paracox®

A live attenuated oral coccidiosis vaccine, indicated for the active immunisation of fowls against Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, E. mitis, and E. tenella.

FOR ANIMAL USE ONLY

PARACOX®
REG. NO. G1994 Act 36/1947
NAMIBIA REG. NO. V01/24.3/517 NS0
ZAMBIA REG. NO. 331/711V
ZIMBABWE REG.NO. 94/80.23.10/9367

Only for use by persons authorised thereto in terms of the Veterinary and Para-veterinary Professions Act, 1982 (Act no. 19 of 1982)

Attenuated Oral Coccidiosis Vaccine for Chickens

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
Store between 2 ºC and 8 ºC. DO NOT FREEZE.
Protect From Light.

COMPOSITION
PARACOX® is a translucent, viscous suspension of oocysts derived from 8 precocious lines of coccidia, presented as a live, attenuated, oral vaccine.

INDICATIONS
For the active immunisation of chickens against Eimeria acervulina, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. mitis, E. necatrix, E. praecox and E. tenella.

WARNINGS

  • No withdrawal period is required.
  • Vaccinate healthy chickens only.
  • KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDRENS, UNINFORMED PERSONS AND ANIMALS
  • Freezing this vaccine will inactivate it. Do not under any circumstances use this vaccine if it has been frozen.
  • Food and water provided at any stage before or after vaccination must be free from anticoccidial agents including sulphonamides as well as antibacterial agents which have anticoccidial activity (viz. oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, furazolidone, nitrofurazone).
  • Since immunity to coccidial infection following PARACOX® administration is enhanced by natural challenge, it should be noted that access to any agents with anticoccidial activity at any time following vaccination may reduce the duration of effective immunity.
  • The vaccine will not actively immunise avian species other than the chicken against coccidiosis.
  • Partially used sachets of the vaccine must be discarded immediately following one dosing session as under field conditions it may be difficult to avoid accidental contamination of the vaccine. Empty and partly-used sachets should be disposed of as per local waste disposal regulations.
  • Although this vaccine has been extensively tested under a large variety of conditions, failure thereof may ensue as a result of a wide range of reasons. If this is suspected, seek veterinary advice and notify the registration holder.
  • Use before expiry date on carton.

PRECAUTIONS

  • For oral administration only from 1 day of age by hatchery spray in conjunction with added red colouring agent, or by drinking water from 5 – 9 days old.
  • Do not administer to dry drinkers.
  • Do not administer into header tanks.
  • To reduce the chances of coccidial field challenge occurring before the full development of immunity, chicken housing should be thoroughly cleaned between rearing cycles.
  • A reduction in efficacy may be observed if a red food colouring agent cochineal E120 is not added to the diluted vaccine before administration by hatchery spray. Addition of a red food colouring agent cochineal red is only to be employed for hatchery spray administration.
  • The recommended colouring agent is cochineal E120 and full efficacy of the product may not be achieved if an alternative to cochineal E120 food colouring agent is used.

DOSAGE AND Directions for USE – Use only as directed
The minimum dose of vaccine is 0,1 mℓ per chicken. Each 100 mℓ sachet will provide sufficient vaccine for 1 000 chickens and each 500 mℓ sachet will provide sufficient vaccine for 5 000 chickens.
PARACOX® is for oral administration to chickens from one day of age by spray on feed or by hatchery spray, or by drinking water from 5 – 9 days old.

  • In water through supplementary drinkers

For oral administration in drinking water.
Chickens should be healthy and floor-reared and at least 5 – 9 days old.
A single dose is given between 5 days and 9 days of age, inclusive.
Ensure that all vaccination equipment is thoroughly cleaned before use.
Drinking water should be withdrawn 1 – 2 hours before vaccination depending on ambient temperature.
The vaccine should be thoroughly mixed before use by vigorous agitation of the sachet.

PARACOX® may be administered into individual drinkers. The chicks must be fully accustomed to these drinkers before vaccination. Occasionally on farms using nipple lines, supplementary drinkers are provided for the first 4-5 days.

A single dose is given between 5 and 9 days of age, inclusive.
The appropriate amount of vaccine for inoculation into each drinker is calculated as follows:

Total number of chickens per house (or pen)  X      0,1  =   Amount of vaccine (mℓ) per drinker
Total number of drinkers per house (or pen)

The vaccine is delivered into each drinker through a short 19 gauge (1,10 mm) cannula attached to an automatic syringe.
A suitable cannula is included with each 100 mℓ and 500 mℓ pack of PARACOX®.
The syringe should be held at an oblique angle to the surface of the water and moved around the drinker during delivery in order to ensure even distribution of the vaccine.
Bell drinkers: Raise drinkers 1 – 2 hours before vaccination depending on the ambient temperature. Do not drain. Inoculate appropriate volume of vaccine into each drinker and lower immediately
Hand-filled, supplementary drinkers: Withdraw drinker 1 – 2 hours before vaccination depending on the ambient temperature. Make a dilution of vaccine in a suitable vessel e.g. clean watering can and pour diluted vaccine into each drinker. The dilution should be no more than 1:50. It is best to vaccinate in pairs, one person to flip the fonts and one person to vaccinate. Point the cannula at the surface of the water at a 45 degree angle and 1 cm above the surface of the water. Administer 1 shot of vaccine on either side of the drinker (180 degrees per shot), to cover 360 degrees. Vaccinate from the back of the house to the front.

  • Hatchery spray

For administration by spray in the hatchery the recommended red food colouring agent cochineal E120, should be added to the diluted vaccine to give a concentration in the diluted vaccine of 0.1 % w/v, equivalent to 210 – 280 mcg/chick. The purity of the cochineal must be in compliance with the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Act No. 54 of 1972). Vaccine should be delivered using a dose volume of 0.21 mℓ of diluted vaccine per chick in a cabinet (Spraycox or as approved by MSD Animal Health) providing a coarse spray. Determine the delivery capacity of the spray cabinet in terms of the volume delivered per 100 birds. Multiply this volume by 50 to give the total volume of diluted vaccine required for 5 000 doses (or by 10 for 1 000 doses). 5 000 Doses are presented in a 500 mℓ pack (1 000 doses in a 100 mℓ pack). Subtract 500 mℓ (or 100 mℓ) from the total volume calculated and add this volume of water to a suitable container (for a 21 mℓ dispensing volume this should be 550 mℓ for 5 000 doses or 110 mℓ for 1 000 doses). Uptake of the vaccine by the chicks, and therefore the efficacy of the vaccine, is improved if a red food colouring agent is added to the diluted vaccine before administration by spray. Add sufficient red food colouring agent (cochineal E120) to the water to give a concentration of 0.1% w/v.

Shake and massage the 5 000 dose (or 1 000 dose) sachet vigorously for 30 seconds to ensure re-suspension of the oocysts. Add the entire contents of the sachet to the water and mix thoroughly. Add the diluted vaccine to the applicator reservoir and operate the cabinet to spray evenly over the chicks using a coarse spray.
Ensure a controlled, even coverage of the total internal surface area of the box containing the chicks. Agitate the applicator reservoir regularly throughout application to avoid settling out of oocysts. Prepare chicks for delivery to rearing accommodation.

About the pack
No vent needle is needed with this all plastic pack. The contents will remain sterile and cannot be tampered with until opened with the probe attached to the delivery tube.

How to use the pack

  1. Attach open end of delivery tube to automatic syringe.
  2. Centre the plastic probe (affixed to the delivery tube) on to the circular stud at the base of the container.
  3. Using sharp, firm pressure, force the probe straight through the operating position within the stud.

A small amount of extra vaccine is added to each pack to allow for priming of the syringe.

PRESENTATION
100 mℓ (1 000 dose) sachets.
500 mℓ (5 000 dose) sachets.

REGISTRATION HOLDER
Intervet South Africa (Pty) Ltd
20 Spartan Road,
Spartan, 1619
RSA
Tel: +27 (0) 11 923 9300
Fax: +27 (0) 11 392 3158
www.msd-animal-health.co.za

Zimbabwe Reg. No. 94/80.23.17/9372
Pharmacological classification: 802317
Distribution category: VMGD

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THIS PACKAGE INSERT
12 March 2010