Elanco has announced the availability of Kavault (avilamycin), a new swine product that represents a first-in-class, animal use-only antibiotic for reduction in incidence and overall severity of diarrhea in the presence of pathogenic Escherichia coli in groups of weaned pigs.

Avilamycin is an orthosomycin antibiotic, which is a new class of antibiotics in the U.S. market for animal use only (not medically important). Administered under a veterinary feed directive, the product can be provided to pigs up to 14 weeks of age.

Fed continuously for 21-42 days based on clinical assessment, Kavault is administered to pigs at risk of developing, but not yet showing clinical signs of, diarrhea. Avilamycin features a zero-day withdrawal period.

A 2011 efficacy trial compared diarrhea incidence rates among newly weaned pigs that received avilamycin (73 g per ton) and a non-medicated control group. The trial found a 31.2% reduction in diarrhea incidence rate in pigs that received avilamycin compared to the non-medicated control group.

As one of the most important causes of postweaning diarrhea in pigs, E. coli can significantly impact herd health and performance.

“E. coli presents a serious threat to nursery pigs when they are most vulnerable and can cause significant performance loss and even death,” said Dr. Thomas Marsteller, director of swine technical consulting for Elanco. “We’re pleased to offer producers this one-of-a-kind solution for E. coli.”

Kavault Important Safety Information

- Caution: Federal law restricts medicated feed containing this veterinary feed directive drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

- To assure responsible antimicrobial drug use in pigs, do not administer to pigs 14 weeks of age or older.

- The Veterinary Feed Directive expiration date must not exceed 90 days from the date of issuance. Veterinary Feed Directives for avilamycin shall not be refilled.