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By Dr. Shauna Voss, Senior Veterinarian MN Board of Animal Health
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Minnesota’s poultry industry needs no reminder of the challenges faced with the arrival of Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) to the state. With reports of mortality at levels that sometimes compare to those seen with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and egg production drops in breeders that have contributed to a nationwide poultry shortage, the virus has had significant impacts on the industry. Understandably, this has the industry asking for a vaccine to help minimize these impacts. Unfortunately, aMPV Type A and B are new to the United States and historical vaccines against aMPV Type C are unlikely to provide the protection needed against the currently circulating strains.
On June 11, 2024, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) issued Notice No. 24-10, which stated that CVB would begin accepting veterinary biologics product licenses and import permit applications. These applications are limited to two specific types of vaccine products or developmental materials:
· The first is Experimental Autogenous Products, which are inactivated biological products (vaccines) that are produced domestically from an isolate of the current outbreak strain. These products are considered unlicensed and must undergo purity and safety testing to verify inactivation of the virus. Progress towards full licensure will be expected and will only be allowed for sale and distribution until more traditional vaccines are licensed.
· The second product covered under CVB Notice 24-10 is for imported developmental materials. Import permits for Master Seed Virus will be considered for products produced internationally to facilitate domestic licensure and production of modified live viral or inactivated products. These products would be considered for conditional licensure to meet emergency conditions.
There are currently two products approved by CVB for use in the United States. Those products are:
· HIPRAVIAR TRT – HIPRAVIAR TRT is an inactivated (killed) monovalent aMPV vaccine produced and distributed by HIPRA, a European pharmaceutical company. This vaccine contains an aMPV Type B chicken origin strain with proven cross-protection against Type A. The vaccine is administered to individual birds via subcutaneous injection and is indicated for use in both chickens and turkeys. HIPRA received a Special Import Permit from CVB on July 26, 2024, which is valid for 1 year.
· Merck Animal Health and Cambridge Technologies – USDA approved the manufacturing and sale of an experimental autogenous vaccine containing inactivated (killed) U.S. origin, field strain aMPV Type B. The vaccine is also administered to individual birds via a subcutaneous injection route.
Distribution and use of all products must be approved by State Animal Health Officials, with the condition that movement of vaccinated birds to unaffected states is prohibited. At the time of writing, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health has approved requests to use the HIPRA and Merck/Cambridge Technologies products in Minnesota breeding flocks.
CEVA Animal Health has also started antigen production for an experimental autogenous vaccine after receiving authorization from CVB to ship a Type B isolate to its autogenous production facility. They are working on gaining regulatory approval for a Type A isolate. Pending the required quality control checks, a finished product may be available in a few months.
It is important to remember that inactivated (killed) vaccines alone are less effective than modified-live vaccines and not suitable for all types of poultry production. This has been a frustration for the poultry industry with concerns that the available vaccines will not be sufficient to control the spread of this virus. Requests are being made to urge USDA to allow the development of domestic modified-live vaccines, while still ensuring a safe and effective product. Having access to multiple tools to prevent, control and treat infections is critically important to protecting poultry in the United States and avoid disruptions in food supply chains.
