bacucheck elisa test checks porcilis pcv vaccination compliance

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has introduced BacuCheck, a simple ELISA test for confirmation of vaccination status with PORCILIS PCV of piglets against porcine circovirus type 2. The announcement was made today during a dedicated symposium at the 6^th International Symposium on Emerging and Re-emerging Pig Diseases that currently takes place in Barcelona (Spain).

The BacuCheck ELISA test is an easy-to-use and value-added herd monitoring service for pig farmers and traders and was developed to be able to discriminate PCV2-vaccinated piglets from non-vaccinated animals. The test is also able to verify if the animals have received the full vaccine dose. The test detects antibodies against baculomarkers which are used in the production of the structural capsid protein ORF2 component of PORCILIS PCV, and are thus able to differentiate between the field virus and the vaccine antigen. By using this laboratory test, piglet producers and traders are able to certify PCV2-vaccinated piglets as an additional quality stamp, thereby facilitating the building of trustful business relationships with feeding pig companies.

Alex Eggen, DVM and Global Technical Director of the Swine Business Unit at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal health explains the scope and interpretation of the test: Insufficient dosing will provide test results that indicate that pigs are not or not properly vaccinated with a full dose of PORCILIS PCV. It must be emphasized that the BacuCheck test results are valid for PORCILIS PCV only. As the system was not tested on samples originating from pigs vaccinated with other PCV2 vaccines, BacuCheck can not reliably be used to control the vaccination status of animals vaccinated with vaccines other than Porcilis PCV.

BacuCheck was developed by veterinary diagnostic laboratory Synlab vet (Leipzig, Germany) in collaboration with Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

The test has already been rolled out in Germany, whereas launches are imminent in the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Spain. Other markets will see a rollout before year-end 2011.

About the BacuCheck ELISA test

The BacuCheck ELISA test measures antibodies against the baculoexpression system (baculomarker) that is used to produce the capsular protein sub-unit of PCV2 virus (coded by the ORF2 gene), which is the antigen used in PORCILIS PCV. The detection of both anti-baculomarker antibodies and anti-ORF2 antibodies is done in 2 different tests, the BacuCheck ELISA and the Synbiotics Serelisa PCV-2 Ab Mono Blocking ELISA. The proportion of positive samples (qualitative in the BacuCheck test) and their titer (quantitative in the Synbiotics test) forms the basis for offering advice whether or not piglets have been vaccinated properly. Proof of adequate vaccination requires at least 80 percent of animals testing positive with a lower limit for the antibody titer of 0.3. Test results are available 1-2 days after sample arrival and are provided to the farmer or trader by e-mail. BacuCheck can be used on piglets from 5-12 weeks of age, provided that vaccination with PORCILIS PCV took place at 3 weeks of age.

About Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, based in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, is focused on the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of animal health products. The company offers customers one of the broadest, most innovative animal health portfolios, including products to prevent, treat and control disease in all major farm and companion animal species as well as products for reproduction management. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health; subsidiaries of Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station NJ, USA. For more information, visit www.intervet.com.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com.