First Vaccine against Canine Flu Moves into Field Testing

The first vaccine against canine influenza may soon be available in the U.S. The US Department of Agriculture has granted a conditional license to Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health to conduct field trials with its CIV vaccine.

Canine influenza was first identified in the U.S. in 2004 and has been detected in dogs in 30 states. It causes a flu-like illness with symptoms that include coughing, sneezing, runny nose and fever.

Because canine influenza is a new pathogen, dogs have no immunity, so infection can spread quickly any where dogs congregate, says Dr. Cynda Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D. of the University of Florida, who has been tracking the disease since 2004.

According to Crawford, virtually all dogs exposed to the virus become infected, although about 20 percent don’t show symptoms. Most dogs recover, but some progress to pneumonia...

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health reports that its vaccine reduces the incidence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding. During the conditional license period, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health must submit data in support of the product's performance for evaluation. For more information, visit: www.intervet.com and www.intervetusa.com.

SOURCE Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health

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